A Persistent Identifier (PID) is a unique and permanent identifier assigned to a digital object, data set, publication or entity. Its purpose is to ensure that it remains identifiable and accessible over a longer period of time. Unlike regular URLs, which can become outdated when a webpage is moved or deleted, a PID remains stable even if the location or metadata of the object changes.

One of the most important aspects of a PID is its uniqueness, which guarantees that no two objects have the same identifier. PIDs play a crucial role in academic research, digital preservation and information management by ensuring consistency and stability. They also help to safeguard credibility and accessibility of information in an ever-changing digital landscape.

At HTW Berlin, the use of different types of PIDs is encouraged, depending on the type of object or entity to which they are assigned:

• DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and URN (Uniform Resource Name) are used for scientific objects. DOIs are among the most frequently used PIDs in science and are usually used for journal articles, research reports or data sets. Yet they can also be used for other types of digital objects. URNs have a similar function. However, since they are managed by the German National Library, no service fee is charged for their registration.
• Researchers and contributors in the scientific community can use an ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) to identify themselves. The ORCID enables the unique identification of researchers and ensures worldwide recognition by academic institutions and publishers. It also allows publications to be linked automatically through DOI systems and provides a way to track the career of researchers independently of any job changes.
• Research organisations can also be associated with a PID. The ROR ID (Research Organisation Registry Identifier) allows research organisations to have their own unique identifier, enabling improved institutional mapping, monitoring and management of research performance.

If you require support or further explanations regarding PIDs (e.g. to obtain a DOI or ORCID), you can contact the Open Access team at this address: open-access@htw-berlin.de. We look forward to hearing from you!