In today’s global academic ecosystem, researchers, scholars, and professionals navigate multiple publishing systems, digital libraries, and indexing platforms. This creates challenges in accurately attributing research output to the correct individual—especially when names are common, change over time, or appear differently across platforms. The Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID) solves this problem by offering a unique digital identity for authors. As research communication grows increasingly digital, having an ORCID iD has become an essential requirement for academic publishing, grant submissions, and cross-platform scholarly integration.
What is an ORCID iD?
An ORCID iD is a unique 16-digit alphanumeric identifier assigned to researchers and authors to distinguish them from others with similar names. Example format:
This iD is linked to a personal ORCID profile, where researchers can:
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Add publications, datasets, and conference papers
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Link institutional affiliations and project details
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Connect grant activity and peer-review contributions
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Synchronize profiles with other scholarly databases
The ORCID system is maintained by the non-profit ORCID Organization, which ensures that researchers can have a persistent identity throughout their career without dependency on a single institution.
How to Get an ORCID iD (Step-by-Step Guide)
Creating an ORCID iD is completely free and takes less than five minutes. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Visit the ORCID Registration Page
Go to the official ORCID registration portal:
👉 <a href="https://orcid.org/register" target="_blank">Register for ORCID</a>
Step 2: Fill in Personal Details
You will be asked to submit:
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First name
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Last name
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Primary email address (institutional or personal)
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Additional email address (optional but recommended)
Adding more than one email ensures you keep control of your account even if you change institutions.
Step 3: Create Login Credentials
Choose:
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A secure password
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Visibility preferences (more below)
Visibility settings include:
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Public — Visible to everyone
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Limited — Shared with trusted parties
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Private — Visible only to you
Most researchers keep publications public for discovery and indexing purposes.
Step 4: Verify Your Email Address
ORCID will send a verification link to your email. After clicking it, your ORCID iD becomes active.
Step 5: Complete Your Profile
Once logged in, you can enhance your profile by adding:
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Education and qualifications
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Employment and affiliations
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Published works
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Grants and funding
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Peer-review contributions
Your ORCID iD is now ready to use in manuscripts, CVs, journal submissions, and online profiles.
Why Every Author Must Have Their Own ORCID iD
Having an ORCID iD is no longer optional in most scholarly environments. Leading institutions, publishers, and funding bodies now recognize it as a standard research identifier. Here are the major reasons every author needs one:
1. Ensures Accurate Identity and Attribution
Common names and diverse name spellings create confusion in indexing systems. ORCID solves this by uniquely identifying researchers regardless of:
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Name variations
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Name changes (marriage, cultural naming)
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Language or alphabet differences
This ensures correct attribution of publications, datasets, and conference proceedings.
2. Required by Major Publishers and Funding Agencies
Top journals and publishers now require ORCID iDs during submission, including:
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Springer Nature
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Elsevier
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Taylor & Francis
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Wiley
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SAGE
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IEEE
Grant providers such as European Research Council, Wellcome Trust, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) also support ORCID for streamlined grant reporting.
3. Enhances Global Visibility and Discoverability
Your ORCID profile becomes a centralized academic identity accessible to databases such as:
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Scopus
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Web of Science
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CrossRef
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Google Scholar
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PubMed
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ResearchGate
This improves discoverability of your work by researchers, institutions, and collaborators across the world.
4. Reduces Administrative Burden
With ORCID integrations, you can auto-update or import publication details from multiple sources without manual entry. This saves time during:
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Manuscript submission
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Grant application
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Performance evaluation
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Promotion and tenure review
5. Supports Career Mobility
Because ORCID is not tied to any university, researchers maintain control even when changing:
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Institutions
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Countries
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Disciplines
This avoids data loss, broken institutional accounts, or outdated professional records.
6. Builds Trust and Academic Credibility
Having an ORCID iD demonstrates professionalism and transparency. It assures:
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Publishers that authors are valid
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Readers that the work is authentic
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Institutions that credit is properly assigned
This is particularly important in an age where predatory journals and duplicate authorship are concerns.
7. Facilitates Open Science and Research Integrity
ORCID promotes Open Science by enabling:
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Research data tracking
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Funding traceability
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Peer-review recognition
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Open-access compliance
This supports a more ethical and transparent academic ecosystem.
Conclusion
Obtaining an ORCID iD is a simple yet powerful step for every researcher, scholar, academic, and author. As scholarly communication becomes increasingly digital and integrated, ORCID ensures accurate identity, seamless interoperability, academic credibility, and long-term ownership of research output. Whether you are preparing for publication, applying for grants, or building an academic career, an ORCID iD is an essential tool that strengthens your global scholarly presence. With major publishers, universities, and funding agencies adopting ORCID as a standard requirement, now is the best time for every author to register and maintain their unique digital research identity.
