Persistent Identifiers
Persistent identifiers (PIDs) are permanent, unique references to digital objects (e.g. publications, datasets, websites), individuals or organisations. They make it easier to locate and link to research outputs, and to establish reliable links between researchers and their work.
The ULB Tirol supports researchers at the University of Innsbruck in the use of persistent identifiers.
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a permanent identifier used to identify, cite and link to digital objects. A DOI resolver link makes it possible to reference the object even if its storage location changes.
A DOI is a unique number consisting of a prefix and a suffix separated by a slash, for example: 10.1000/182. This DOI can be resolved via the doi.org proxy server by entering it as a link: https://doi.org/10.1000/182.
University of Innsbruck DOI service
The University of Innsbruck facilitates the assignment of DOIs for individual digital objects published in the University’s institutional repositories, as well as for systems and platforms operated by members of the University.
The University of Innsbruck’s DOI service is operated in conjunction with the registration agency DataCite and is free of charge. The PID Contact Point at the University and State Library of Tyrol is responsible for providing information on DOIs and for assigning DOIs at the University of Innsbruck.
What are the advantages of a DOI?
- A DOI makes scholarly objects permanently citable.
- It ensures long-term access and discoverability – regardless of changes to the URL.
- The most important descriptive metadata is stored upon registration.
- A DOI facilitates linking to supplementary academic resources (e.g. research data, software).
- Funding bodies such as the FWF or the EU are increasingly making the assignment of DOIs a prerequisite for publications and data.
DOI assignment for publications in the institutional repository ULB : Dok
If you wish to obtain a DOI for individual digital publications, you must first upload the publication to the University of Innsbruck’s institutional repository. This is the only way we, as the PID contact point, can ensure that the object remains permanently accessible. Further information on the ULB : Dok repository can be found here.
Please note: All digital objects published in ULB : Dok are automatically assigned a URN (Uniform Resource Name) as a persistent identifier.
DOI Assignment for platform operators at the University of Innsbruck
Platform operators at the University of Innsbruck who can guarantee permanent, reliable data accessibility are authorised to assign DOIs for their platforms and technical systems independently. For the purpose of assigning DOIs, an agreement is drawn up between the university’s platform operators and the PID contact point, setting out the prefix and the structure of the suffix, as well as the procedure for registering the DOIs.
What are the requirements for digital objects?
In accordance with the guidelines on DOI assignment [see institutional policy on the registration of digital object identifiers (DOIs)] at the University of Innsbruck, the following requirements, amongst others, apply to digital objects:
- A DOI must link to a landing page, not to the object itself.
- The object must be accompanied by the most important descriptive metadata (title, author, year of publication).
- Every digital object assigned a DOI must be accessible online via a URL or, in the event of access restrictions, at least the landing page containing the metadata must be accessible.
- An object assigned a DOI must not be altered. Separate DOIs must be registered for modified or updated objects.
- Platform operators must ensure that the content of digital objects complies with the general rules of good academic practice.
Where can I find an example of a platform that obtains a DOI?
Examples of platforms that obtain DOIs via the PID contact point:
- Digital Science Center blog https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/disc/blog
- Research data repository https://researchdata.uibk.ac.at
- Repository for educational resources (OER) https://oer-repo.uibk.ac.at/edu-sharing
Further information on national PID services and the assignment of DOIs to Austrian institutions can be found here: DOI Services Austria .
The ORCID iD (Open Researcher and ContributorID) is a free, persistent digital identifier consisting of an alphanumeric code that uniquely distinguishes you as a researcher from other researchers and enables you to manage your research output with ease.
ORCID is run by a non-profit organisation and is established as an international standard. The University of Innsbruck is part of the ORCID Austria consortium. One of the main aims of this consortium is to establish the ORCID iD as the primary unique identifier for researchers in Austria. In its guidelines on statement of affiliation with the University of Innsbruck, the University of Innsbruck recommends that all members of the university create an ORCID profile and keep it up to date.
What do I need to do to create an ORCID iD?
Simply register on the website at ORCID.
Please note that when registering your ORCID iD, you must use the official university name Universität Innsbruck or University of Innsbruck as your affiliation. We at ULB Tirol also recommend that you add the University of Innsbruck as a trusted organisation to your ORCID profile. To obtain a personalised authorisation link simply click on the button below request ORCID affiliation.
ORCID affiliation University of Innsbruck - in a nutshell
What are the benefits of an ORCID iD?
An ORCID iD …
- helps to clearly distinguish between researchers – particularly where names are the same or similar,
- ensures that research outputs remain correctly attributed even when a researcher changes institution,
- makes it easier for funding bodies, publishers, conference organisers and other researchers to find research outputs.
Unlike publisher-specific or platform-specific identifiers (e.g. Scopus ID, ResearcherID, arXiv Author ID), the ORCID iD is independent of individual providers. All researchers can create an ORCID iD free of charge and link it to various platforms, repositories and organisations.
ORCID places great importance on the protection of personal data: you decide at any time which information in your profile is publicly visible and which remains private.
Further information on ORCID and how to register for your own ORCID iD can be found at ORCID website.
What Your ORCID Record Can Do For You
A Short Video Introduction from ORCID on Vimeo
As with personal names, the names of research institutions can also appear in different forms – for example, in different languages, as abbreviations, or with the names of individual sub-units included (e.g. University of Innsbruck, Uni Innsbruck, UIBK). This makes it difficult to unambiguously attribute scientific results to a particular organisation.
Persistent identifiers for institutions solve this problem: the metadata linked to the PID contains the official name of the institution, including alternative names, the type of institution, its location and further information.
Identifiers for the University of Innsbruck:
- ROR: 054pv6659
- Ringgold: 27255
Further information can be found in guidelines on stating affiliation with the University of Innsbruck.
PID Contact Point:
University and State Library Tyrol, Digital Services Department +43 512 507 25401ulb-digitale-services@uibk.ac.at
Contact: Digital Services Department +43 512 507 25401, ulb-digitale-services@uibk.ac.at