Purpose

Discovery systems are member integrations that help researchers discover and connect with their activities from within their ORCID record. Researchers can use discovery systems to claim and add works, funding, and personal information to other systems. Selected discovery systems, known as Import tools, are listed within the relevant section of the ORCID Registry under the + Add dropdown. The researcher can select the appropriate service(s) to use (for example, by discipline or language) for adding items to their record.  

This workflow details how ORCID members can integrate a discovery system, and requirements to be included within the ORCID Registry. It describes the purpose of discovery systems, the specific requirements of Import tools, how it interacts with users and the API, and the approval and launch process.

Intended Audience

This document describes a workflow that may be used by abstract and citation databases, bibliographic catalogues, metadata aggregators, registration agencies, and academic search engines writing researcher-claimed items to ORCID records.

Key Benefits

• Identify Research Outputs: Discovery systems help researchers update an ORCID record quickly by searching for research outputs from various sources. 
• Aggregate Internal Profiles: Discovery systems can read this information and update their own databases to maintain internal user profiles. 
• Enhance Visibility: Seeing the source of information in an ORCID record is an important way of building trust in that information. Items added via discovery systems show the source as “researcher name via service name” to make it clear how the item was added to the record. 

Researcher Workflow

There are two types of Discovery Systems workflows: those accessed via a member site and those accessed directly within the ORCID Registry (Import Tools).  Both follow a similar workflow. 

1. The researcher signs in to ORCID with an OAuth authentication response.
2. The member collects information from the researcher’s ORCID record and uses it to supplement and enhance information in their own system. 
3. The researcher follows a discovery process to find and review items that match relevant details. The researcher is guided through a discovery process (which can be researcher-driven, system-driven, or a combination). For example, the researcher may search an index and claim matching items. The system may also use data from the researcher’s ORCID record to identify matching items for their researcher to claim. 
4. The researcher selects and confirms their items.
5. The member connects the items to the researcher’s ORCID iD and updates the researcher’s ORCID record. 

Import Tools

Import tools are integrations that can be used to import items (works, funding, personal information) into the ORCID Registry. Researchers access these services directly from within the ORCID Registry, within the relevant section of their record under the + Add dropdown. The researcher can select the appropriate service(s) to use (for example, by discipline or language) for adding items to their record.  

As Import tools are directly included in the ORCID Registry, ORCID needs to ensure that they adhere to a high standard. As of 2026, new import services must be hosted by ORCID Premium members and certified under ORCID’s Certified Service Provider program in order to be listed in the ORCID Registry. The ORCID CSP program allows service providers to demonstrate that their integrations deliver the functionality that their stakeholders expect and desire. Import services listed under ‘ORCID Certified Services’ meets the requirements of Discovery Systems criteria. 

In addition, organizations interested in having a discovery system listed within the ORCID Registry must be Premium Members and use a separate set of credentials from any other integrations. 

As Import tools are directly included in the ORCID Registry, ORCID needs to ensure that they continue to adhere to a high standard once credentials have been issued. Integrations will be checked every 12 months as per the certification renewal process and if they no longer meet our best practices, ORCID reserves the right to demote or remove them from the ORCID Registry. 

1. The researcher signs in to the ORCID Registry to curate their record.
2. The researcher selects the Add+ option from the relevant section of the ORCID record and selects Import works from other services. 
3. The researcher selects a relevant service from the list. 
4. The researcher authenticates their iD, granting the service permission to interact with their record. 
5. The researcher is redirected to the member’s integration, with an OAuth authentication response.
6. The member collects information from the researcher’s ORCID record and uses it to supplement and enhance information in their own system(s). 
7. The researcher follows a discovery process to find and review items that match relevant details. The researcher is guided through a discovery process (which can be researcher-driven, system-driven, or a combination). For example, the researcher may search an index and confirm matching items. The system may also use data from the researcher’s ORCID record to identify matching items. 
8. The researcher selects, supplements, and confirms their items.
9. The member updates the researcher’s ORCID record. 
10. The member includes a link between the ORCID iD and the item in their own system, displaying the connection in the appropriate pages. For example, if there is a web page containing a journal article that a researcher has claimed, then the iD is displayed alongside this.
11. When updates to any selected works metadata take place within the system, the member keeps the items added to ORCID records up to date with changes. 
12. If the discovery system creates its own researcher profiles or author clusters, the member provides an option through this integration or a related one within the discovery integration to periodically sync the researcher profile and the researcher’s ORCID record to add any new items. 

Technical Requirements

Case Studies and Further Reading

Importing works from other services 

Enabling Value featuring The Lens – ORCID

Technical Documentation

A detailed tutorial can be found to learn how to write, update and delete works, write, update and delete personal identifiers, or write, update, and delete funding.

Additional technical documentation can be found for getting authenticated iDs and reading data on a record.

Related Content

Become an ORCID Certified Service Provider 

CSP Criteria: Discovery Systems – ORCID