Research data management

What is a DOI?

A DOI is intended to be a persistent, unique identifier for digital objects such as journal articles or datasets, to enable the item to be found and cited. The DOI system is managed by the International DOI Foundation. DOIs can be incorporated into URLs so that users can always access the digital content, even if it has moved online location. 

Permission for an institution such as Cranfield University to ‘mint’ and assign DOIs must be approved by a DOI Registration Agency.

What is the advantage of having a DOI?

Giving your data or article a DOI:

• means that usage of your data/article can be followed as others use and cite it.
• makes the data/article uniquely identifiable.
• means you will always be identified as the creator of the cited data/article.
• means your data/article can always be located with a simple web search.

How do I get one?

Datasets deposited in CORD will automatically be assigned a DOI once approved after submission. DOIs cannot be assigned to datasets stored in repositories not controlled by Cranfield University. Researchers who require a persistent and unique identifier for their data, should carefully consider whether their chosen repository can provide this functionality.

For journal articles, DOIs are normally created at the point of publication by a DOI Registration Agency such as CrossRef. Cranfield University does not, as a matter of routine, assign DOIs to articles.