AIMing for success
Academic Identity Management
Academic identity management (AIM) ensures that scientific publications are clearly assigned and makes a significant contribution to scientific reputation. It increases the visibility of scientists and research institutions alike. The aim of AIM is the complete and clear recording of scientific achievements at the level of individual researchers and entire institutions.
By maintaining profiles in databases such as ORCID, Web of Science and Scopus, researchers ensure that any research output is correctly attributed to their person and the respective institution. The number and impact of publications are quantifiable variables and play a central role in institutional performance comparisons and rankings. Consistent name and affiliation information is crucial in order to present the research output of the University of Cologne completely and correctly. The use of an ORCID is important for the open access funding of publications via the USB.
We strongly recommend that all researchers create an ORCID profile and update it at least every six months. For detailed instructions, please visit our profile maintenance guide.
You conduct research at the WiSo Faculty, would like to learn more about academic identity management and receive individual advice? We offer an informational session on Academic Identity Management (AIM) twice a year. For more information or to schedule a one-on-one consultation, please send us an email at datenmanagement(at)wiso(dot)uni-koeln(dot)de
You can use this contact form to provide the University of Cologne with your ORCID ID.
Advantages
- Unique publication assignment
- Automated profile maintenance
- Increased visibility
- Precise data basis for applications
- Important for open access funding of the USB
- Digital CV
- Improved ranking data
Research databases
ORCID
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is an international, non-profit organization that provides researchers with a permanent and unique author identification number (ORCID ID). Bibliographic data, publications, and other research data, such as awards, can be recorded via a personal ORCID profile.
The ORCID system consists of three interconnected components: the ORCID iD, the associated ORCID profile (record), and interfaces (APIs) for connecting external systems such as publishers, databases (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science), funding organizations, and institutional repositories. This enables automatic data exchange and synchronization, reducing maintenance effort and avoiding errors in publication attribution. Researchers can automatically import new publications into their ORCID profile or add them manually, and with their consent, the data is released to connected services.
A key advantage of ORCID is the reliable identification of researchers and their bibliographic data and research output, which facilitates research reporting, third-party funding applications, and bibliometric evaluations.
Information about ORCID can be found here and here.
You can submit your ORCID ID using this contact form from the University of Cologne.
Ranking:
Scopus
Scopus (Elsevier) is an established, curated abstract and citation database containing predominantly peer-reviewed, mainly English-language scientific publications from numerous subject areas. The focus is on literature research, citation analysis, and bibliometric evaluations. The content is selected by independent experts to ensure quality and relevance.
Author profiles are created automatically, which can result in duplicate profiles or errors in cases where names are identical or have variations. Unlike other providers, Scopus is a paid service and therefore not freely accessible.
Rankings:
- QS World University Ranking and QS Subject Rankings
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking and THE Subject Rankings
Web of Science
Web of Science (Clarivate) is an established literature and citation database that primarily includes peer-reviewed, predominantly English-language scientific publications from numerous subject areas. In addition to literature research, the system offers extensive analysis functions, such as citation evaluations and impact measurements.
Author profiles are created automatically (marked “This is an algorithmically generated author record”). This can result in duplicate profiles or errors in cases where names are identical or have variations. Unlike other providers, Web of Science is a paid service and therefore not freely accessible.
Rankings:
Google Scholar
Google Scholar (Google) is a freely accessible search engine from Google that indexes scientific publications from a variety of sources. It automatically assigns publications to individuals and provides citation metrics. The content is collected and weighted entirely algorithmically and without editorial quality control. As a result, duplicates and non-peer-reviewed content may be included. The algorithms for full-text analysis and rankings are based on relevance, citation frequency, and recency.
A link to ORCID is currently not possible, and therefore Google Scholar is only listed as a supplement.
DOI registries
Crossref
Crossref is a non-profit organization with the goal of making scientific research results permanently findable, citable, and uniquely linkable. Its core service is the assignment and management of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for scientific content such as journal articles, books, conference papers, and other digital resources.
Crossref operates a comprehensive metadata infrastructure that records titles, authors, publication dates, source references, citation information, and more. Member publishers and institutions register publications with Crossref, maintain the associated metadata, and update it when changes occur. This ensures that DOIs permanently refer to the current version of the resource.
Crossref is a central infrastructure of modern academic publishing and is integrated into almost all relevant bibliographic and monitoring systems. Crossref can be linked to ORCID.
DataCite
DataCite is a non-profit organization focused on the permanent identification and citability of digital research objects. DataCite's core service is the assignment of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for various research outputs, in particular research data and other non-traditional research objects.
DataCite thus provides a central metadata infrastructure that supports the unique identification and citability of scientific results. It contributes to the visibility and transparency of research achievements. Compared to Crossref, an organization that works in a similar way and primarily addresses publications such as journal articles, books, and conference papers, DataCite focuses on research data and other digital research objects.
DataCite can be linked to ORCID.
University of Cologne
Publication Guidelines
The University of Cologne's publication guidelines define the standard spelling of the university's name in the affiliation details of all publications produced. The guidelines also provide information on the correct naming of other affiliations such as faculties, institutes, third-party funded projects, and how to deal with double or multiple affiliations. The currently valid version is from June 2025.
Further information can be found here:
https://ub.uni-koeln.de/sites/UB/user_upload/2025-06-25_Publication_Guidelines.pdf
Contact
Contact persons at the University of Cologne at the UCL
Contact persons at the WiSo Library of the WiSo Faculty
RIS-Database
The Research Information System (FIS) at the University of Cologne provides a comprehensive overview of current projects, publications, and scientific activities. As a central database, it bundles all of the university's research information, presents it in a compact form, and keeps it continuously up to date. The aim is to make research achievements more visible through context-related presentation and to provide data in accordance with the specifications of the core research data set. In addition, the FIS relieves researchers of their documentation and reporting activities and supports them in presenting their scientific expertise to the outside world. The central FIS portal makes content from the FIS accessible to the general public and visible beyond the University of Cologne. With the introduction of the FIS and the FIS portal, the University of Cologne is responding to the growing importance of data-supported procedures in national and international competition.
The FIS portal is currently still under construction.
Further information can be found here: https://ris.uni-koeln.de/en/
Initiative CRIS.NRW – Core data set for research
With the publication of the “Recommendations for the Specification of the Core Data Set for Research,” the Science Council has also called on the federal and state governments to work toward the rapid implementation of this standard. Universities and research institutions are to be supported in this endeavor, for example, through the necessary introduction of suitable tools such as a research information system.
CRIS.NRW is a state-wide cooperation project recommended by the Digital University NRW and funded by the digitization initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The initiative is based at the University of Münster and builds on its experience in setting up a research information system and as a pilot university in the specification of the core data set for research.
The core research data set (KDSF) defines which information on research activities at universities, universities of applied sciences, and external institutions is to be recorded. It standardizes quality-assured, comparable data from six fields: employees, promotion of young researchers, third-party funding and finances, patents and spin-offs, publications, and research infrastructures. The aim of the KDSF is to reduce redundant data collection for efficient reporting in CERIF format.
Further information can be found here: