ORCID 2030: Advancing the Future of Research - Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 We envision ORCID established as essential research infrastructure enabling transparent and trustworthy connections between researchers and their work. A world where ORCID serves as a persistent, verifiable identity and contribution data hub that empowers the global research community and advances transparent, trustworthy scholarship. ^^ Toward the end, we expand the value and scope of ORCID as a verifiable identity and contribution data hub in order to proactively empower the global research community and advance transparent, trustworthy scholarship. This strategic plan was developed using the SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) framework rooted in Appreciative Inquiry methodology, with input from the ORCID Board, staff, Consortia Interest Group (CIG), and ORCID Researcher Advisory Council (ORAC) throughout 2025. ^^ Submitter's Note: The content of this plan was inferred from the PDF source and rendered in StratML format by Claude.ai. It has been lightly edited in the form at https://stratml.us/forms/Claude/Part1.html ORCID ORCID uuid-org-001 ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes researchers and supports automated links between researchers and their professional activities. Open Researcher and Contributor ID. Global community with 1,518 member organizations across 70 countries, 10.65M yearly active researchers, and 29 national and regional consortia as of December 11, 2025. ORCID serves as a persistent, verifiable identity and contribution data hub that empowers the global research community and advances transparent, trustworthy scholarship uuid-vision-001 To enable transparent and trustworthy connections between researchers and their contributions by providing researcher-centric services built on core values of being Open, Inclusive, and Trusted. uuid-mission-001 Openness Commitment to openness in infrastructure, data, and processes. Open access to ORCID infrastructure and commitment to transparency in operations and governance. Trust Building and maintaining trust through integrity and reliability. Earned trust of the research community through 13 years of dedication to enabling transparent and trustworthy connections between researchers and their work. Inclusiveness Serving the global research community with equity and accessibility. Commitment to serving researchers across all disciplines, regions, and backgrounds, particularly expanding participation in underrepresented areas. Empowerment [Embark on a] bolder, more externally focused evolution from increasing value to researchers, toward willingness to take on a broader set of challenges and serve a broader cross-section of the research community. 10ef9810-d51a-4a93-ad80-ae11e7c4ad3f 1 Researchers Strategic Theme 1: Represents evolution from researcher-centric services to addressing broader challenges facing researchers, institutions, and the scholarly ecosystem. Reputations & Visibility Help researchers everywhere build their reputations and visibility. 4ba2719a-bfb6-4b9e-ab49-214b39c44359 1.1 Enable researchers globally to establish and enhance their professional visibility and recognition. Automation Make ORCID smarter—use automation to do more of the work for researchers while keeping them in control. 1f1a26da-1d0d-4e19-b296-0c0edcc62100 1.2 Leverage automation and AI/ML to reduce researcher burden while maintaining user control over their data and profile. Value Increase the value of ORCID for researchers beyond STEM fields. 415dc060-c69f-4b7c-9fb8-f84aab116538 1.3 Expand relevance and utility to humanities, social sciences, and other non-STEM disciplines. Contribution Sharing Enable researchers to share a broader range of their contributions to research. 577ca940-408e-4456-8433-18f93b5e140b 1.4 Support documentation of diverse research contributions beyond traditional publications, including data, software, reviews, and other scholarly activities. Outreach Strengthen our outreach to researchers about the value we offer. 2405ff1b-6edd-4c5e-8465-b59b32b017cc 1.5 Improve communication and engagement to ensure researchers understand and can leverage ORCID benefits. Connections Enable transparent and trustworthy connections between researchers and their contributions, positioning ORCID as a central hub in the Community Trust Network. 131a8cee-6b5d-430c-ab0f-7fe0f66eff8b 2 Strategic Theme 2: Continuation and reflection of work positioning ORCID as central hub in the Community Trust Network formed by organizational members. Data Increase the proportion of member organizations contributing data to ORCID, not just consuming it. d84b3141-1cb7-479d-91ff-646932d3b03a 2.1 Shift from one-way data consumption to bidirectional data exchange, strengthening the network effect. Integrations Increase the amount and quality of integrations with ORCID. 4cd34703-93b2-4135-b5c0-3dabf07be7d6 2.2 Enhance both quantity and quality of technical integrations across the research ecosystem. CSP Network Expand our Certified Service Provider (CSP) network and refine our certification standards. dd0602a6-7911-4f02-92eb-40bbbe435b8d 2.3 Grow and strengthen the ecosystem of certified third-party service providers that integrate with ORCID. Metadata Hub Expand ORCID role as a hub of vital data for other services by improving the completeness and accuracy of ORCID metadata. c9d25220-9b98-4309-a60c-bcf8c3975104 2.4 Enhance data quality and completeness to increase utility for downstream services and applications. Infrastructure Provider Relations Strengthen relationships with other scholarly infrastructure providers. 53b89ec0-65f6-457f-9a5c-f1e47bf1988c 2.5 Build stronger partnerships with complementary infrastructure organizations like Crossref, DataCite, ROR, and others. Community Increase global participation while broadening ambitions regarding communities and use cases ORCID engages with, ensuring current members maximize their participation value. 762b7522-3efe-449d-a4e1-25c66e65b981 3 Strategic Theme 3: Evolution of Increasing Global Participation theme with expanded scope for communities and use cases. Partnerships Expand our network of community partners in parts of the world with fewer resources and lower participation, exploring new models to engage them. 47e8c565-4547-44e3-8079-ce17d2562f1c 3.1 Focus on increasing participation in underrepresented regions through innovative engagement models. Intergovernmental Engagement Increase engagement with international and intergovernmental organizations working on research and education. cc8eb777-b195-43fc-abef-62d29a9ac096 3.2 Strengthen relationships with IGOs like UNESCO, WHO, and regional research organizations. Use Cases Expand ORCID relevance to use cases such as research administration, digital credentials, research security and research funding. 967db128-fa3d-453d-99ff-4bf61d925362 3.3 Broaden applicability beyond traditional scholarly communication to emerging use cases in research management and assessment. Integration & Participation Reduce barriers to integration and participation, helping all our member organizations gain maximum benefit from their membership. ef23d576-9e7a-48de-991f-d74490bc76bc 3.4 Simplify technical and organizational barriers to ensure all members, regardless of resources, can fully leverage ORCID. Funding Secure the long-term future of our Global Participation Fund. d03377bc-ed5f-4f63-b186-6ae3a4e265b1 3.5 Ensure sustainable funding mechanism to support participation from resource-constrained organizations globally. Trust & Integrity Commit to trust and integrity as foundational to all other priorities, addressing external issues of research integrity, digital identity, and geopolitical shifts. bcfc980a-37d9-45e3-bb9f-b3b40eb0d9f1 4 Strategic Theme 4: Recognizes that without commitment to trust and integrity, none of ORCID other priorities would be possible. Provider Strengthen our role as a key provider of trust in a world of growing research misinformation. 6704be3e-336f-4a6d-9a87-8e6c6ada417e 4.1 Combat research misinformation through verified researcher identities and trusted connections. Leadership Provide leadership on research integrity issues, highlighting our track record and the strength of our community. acf57a82-9ad7-47e3-bb14-69804e5813b1 4.2 Lead by example in addressing research integrity challenges through community engagement and transparent practices. Trustworthiness Help researchers demonstrate their trustworthiness through open and transparent evidence. fa2a86ec-9c1f-4ee2-9b1f-0682e7f232a3 4.3 Enable researchers to build verifiable records of their contributions and affiliations. Digital Identity Engagement Increase our engagement in the digital identity ecosystem. 690eba8c-44c4-4b60-9d7d-99a90ea655c9 4.4 Actively participate in broader digital identity standards and initiatives beyond research. Neutrality Maintain our geographical and geopolitical neutrality, working with all on equal terms according to our principles and values. 234c7606-1500-488c-8479-89f709d22d9f 4.5 Uphold commitment to serving the global research community impartially, regardless of political boundaries or tensions. Organizational Resiliency Ensure ORCID longevity and sustainability as persistent infrastructure provider through operational excellence, cybersecurity, technological innovation, and staff development. 3059a1bb-8f6c-4b15-bc6b-c6d63d36b705 5 Strategic Theme 5: Draws attention to foundational work ensuring ORCID persistence as critical research infrastructure. Revenue Grow and diversify our revenue streams to ensure financial sustainability and to further our mission. 83e41484-ad94-4923-9081-cccce236f265 5.1 Develop sustainable and diverse funding sources to support long-term mission delivery. Processes Continually improve and simplify operational processes to allow us to efficiently scale. c87fbdbc-6528-4050-bf4d-b1eed90d48a0 5.2 Streamline operations to support growth while maintaining quality and efficiency. Cybersecurity Strengthen and maintain our cybersecurity defences and business continuity plans to ensure resilience and reliability. e173faab-3168-466c-a08e-36a7385ac12e 5.3 Protect critical infrastructure through robust security measures and continuity planning. AI/ML Technology Improve our understanding of AI and ML technologies and deploy them thoughtfully to improve our processes and services. 76d06225-b363-4764-ab14-241f0de0f5de 4.4 Leverage emerging technologies responsibly to enhance operations and researcher experience. Staff Development Support and develop our staff by being a great place to work and treating our people fairly. d4268d15-5f53-4dab-80b9-45af2597e1d1 4.5 Invest in staff wellbeing, development, and fair treatment to sustain organizational capability. 2026-01-01 2029-12-31 2026-01-20 https://doi.org/10.23640/07243.30585443 Owen Ambur Owen.Ambur@verizon.net