National PID Strategy
CRKN is partnering with the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) to champion a collaborative national strategy for persistent identifiers (PIDs) to support the widespread adoption of PIDs across the Canadian research ecosystem. We believe in a future where comprehensive persistent identifier (PID) adoption will underpin an effective and equitable digital research information landscape in Canada, enabling open and persistent connections between research inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. A national approach to PIDs encourages widespread adoption and innovation, which maximizes the benefits to Canada. Other countries, like the UK and Australia, are already developing national PID strategies - Canada must too.
Resources
Since 2021, CRKN and the Alliance have been building Canada's national PID strategy drawing on international expertise from MoreBrains Cooperative. With guidance from the Canadian Persistent Identifier Advisory Committee (CPIDAC), they have developed a growing set of resources to support PID adoption in Canada.
The strategy goes beyond a single document: explore the core strategy here and browse the full set of resources below.
Canadian PID Strategy
- Canada's Persistent Identifiers Strategy
- Why Canada Needs a PID Strategy? — PID Strategy Pitch
Engagement Toolkit
The engagement toolkit includes materials that can be used for promotion and targeted outreach.
- Persistent Identifiers: What They Are and Why You Should Care — PIDs 101
- What problems would PID implementation in Canada address? — Impact and Value of PIDs
- How can the Canadian PID strategy support national-level policy priorities? — Policy Briefing
- How to "Do" PIDs and Reap the Benefits? — Stakeholder Actions
- Implementing PIDs at your Institution — Checklist for Success
Vision, Mission, and Principles
The vision, mission, and principles document outlines in further detail our vision for the future of PIDs in Canada and how we are going to get there.
PID Matrix
The PID Matrix is a tool that can help you to choose the right PID for the right problem. In particular, it compares gold standard open and public options (like ORCID and DOIs) to proprietary options that do not meet criteria associated with the principles guiding the National PID Strategy.
Consultation Reports
From 2021 to 2024, CRKN, the Alliance, and CPIDAC worked with consultants MoreBrains Cooperative across three phases to help assess the Canadian PID landscape, challenges and opportunities for PID adoption, and gaps to be filled. They published reports at the ends of each phase with key insight and strategic guidance for the implementation and adoption of PIDs in Canada.
- Phase I: Towards a national PID strategy for Canada
- Phase II: Laying the foundations for the Canadian national PID strategy
- Phase III: Investing in an efficient and transparent research ecosystem in Canada