DataCite is home to research organizations from over 70 countries, working together to connect research and advance knowledge through community-driven open infrastructure. Our membership reflects the wide range and diversity of research communities we work with, bringing together universities, national libraries, research and education networks (NRENs), research funders, museums, government bodies, archives, learned societies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and others from around the world. Each organization works in its own context, but all share a common goal: supporting the long-term identification, discovery, and reuse of research outputs, resources, and activities in all their forms.
Diversity as a Strength in the DataCite Community
Diversity within DataCite goes beyond the types of organizations in our community. It is also reflected in the various systems in use by our members, including repositories, publishing platforms, archives, and open databases. DataCite works closely with different software providers through our Registered Service Provider (RSP) programme. Through these partnerships and integrations with DataCite infrastructure, we make it easier for members to use our services in different technical environments, creating a more connected and interoperable ecosystem.
Diversity is also reflected in the different membership pathways to join our community—whether through direct membership, consortium membership, or as supporting members who contribute to and benefit from our infrastructure. In this sense, diversity is not only a feature of our community; it is one of its core strengths.
The introduction of DataCite’s new membership model represents an important step in strengthening this shared mission. It is designed to better reflect the diversity of our community and the different ways DataCite infrastructure is adopted and used. By lowering barriers to entry and offering a more flexible and inclusive framework, the model ensures that organizations of different sizes, capacities, and regional contexts can participate fully in the DataCite ecosystem. It also helps institutions better plan their costs by moving away from volume-based fees towards a collective funding model.
The DataCite Membership Experience: Being a Community Partner
Being a DataCite member means joining a global community committed to advancing open research infrastructure. Beyond accessing our services, members have opportunities to actively shape the future of the community by contributing to DataCite’s governance, participating in community groups, and informing our strategic direction. We also engage with our members through training, webinars, Open Hours sessions, and other capacity-building activities. Throughout the year, members connect through virtual and in-person events—including DataCite Connect—where they exchange experiences, share good practices, build collaborations, and provide valuable feedback that helps strengthen our shared infrastructure.
Beyond DOI registration, DataCite members have access to tools and services that help maximize the value of their research infrastructure and metadata. DataCite Commons enables organizations to explore connections between research outputs, researchers, organizations, and funding, while tracking citations and other relationships across the research ecosystem. The DataCite Metadata Dashboard helps members assess and improve metadata quality, identify opportunities for enhancement, and increase the discoverability, interoperability, and impact of their research outputs. Together, these services empower members to get more value from their metadata and strengthen their contribution to the global research landscape.
Member Stories in Their Own Words
Given the diversity of our member organizations, we would like to shed light on their unique stories. We want to share how they use DataCite infrastructure in practice, from initial adoption and integration to scaling its use across different environments. We want to learn about the challenges they faced, the approaches they took, and the lessons they learned along the way. Through these member stories, we invite you to explore the benefits of DataCite’s infrastructure and the value of belonging to a diverse and growing global community.
Stay tuned for the stories ahead, and if your organization has a DataCite story or use case to share, we would love to hear from you. Connect with our team to explore how your story could be featured.
Mohamad Mostafa
Maria Levchenko
