#Japan #Osaka #Research Management #Media Fusion #ORCID

Media Fusion: Enhancing Researcher Identification through ORCID Membership

Introduction
Media Fusion Co., Ltd., based in Osaka, has officially announced its membership in the global researcher identification initiative, ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID), effective January 1, 2026. This membership aims to improve the connectivity between their product, the 'MF Teacher Performance Management System,' and the ORCID Registry, ultimately bolstering the international dissemination of research information from universities and research institutions in Japan.

Understanding ORCID
ORCID is an internationally recognized system that provides unique identifiers for researchers, known as ORCID iDs, which consist of 16 alphanumeric digits. This identifier allows for the accurate association of academic papers and research outputs within an open-access environment, facilitating global usage. Despite its wide adoption in Europe and the United States, ORCID has seen slower implementation in Japan, highlighting the urgent need for adoption to enhance international competitiveness in research.

Significance of the ORCID Registry

The ORCID Registry serves as a directory for researchers worldwide, allowing their contributions and achievements to be managed and shared effectively. By integrating the ORCID system with their performance management platform, Media Fusion enhances researchers' ability to manage their prolific outputs and streamlines the process of reporting achievements to their respective institutions.

Key Benefits of ORCID Integration

1. Global Promotion of Researcher Information: The ORCID Registry acts as an international hub where researchers worldwide can register their work, aiding in the dissemination of valuable research results.

2. Automation of Research Outputs: Incorporating papers and achievements into the ORCID system means that these outputs will be automatically updated in institutional performance management systems. This reduces the administrative burden on researchers, allowing them to focus on their work instead of repetitive manual entries.

3. Unique Identification and Evaluation of Researchers: The ORCID iD enables the clear distinction of researchers, particularly in cases of common names, thus providing precise evaluations of academic contributions from the data collected over time.

4. Centralized Management of Researcher Profiles: With an ORCID iD, researchers can manage their profiles—including their affiliations, research domains, and awards—using a single platform, ensuring consistent information dissemination throughout their careers.

Media Fusion’s Commitment to Research Management

Media Fusion has made strides in integrating the ORCID functionality into its MF Teacher Performance Management System through trials conducted in real environments. The system already supports data synchronization with the domestic research portal 'researchmap' and will similarly provide bidirectional collaboration with ORCID, expected to officially launch by March 2026 upon completing requisite procedures.

Options for ORCID Integration

The ORCID integration comes with three distinct product options based on the desired mode of connection:

• - Automatic Data Entry Option: Researchers' information will be regularly pulled from the ORCID Registry into their institution’s performance management system, ensuring the data remains current and accurate.

• - Manual Data Import Adapter: Users can selectively search ORCID Registry data as needed and import it into their institution's system.

• - Write Connector for ORCID: This allows for automatic data submission from institutional management systems back to the ORCID Registry, with required data format conversion.

Conclusion

As a pioneering step, Media Fusion's partnership with ORCID signifies a move towards more sophisticated and efficient researcher management solutions. By facilitating easier data sharing and improving the visibility of Japanese researchers on the international stage, this initiative directly contributes to fostering a more efficient and interconnected academic community. For more information about Media Fusion’s offerings, please navigate to their official website, or reach out via their contact information.

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For additional queries or to learn more about the MF Teacher Performance Management System, please contact Media Fusion directly at:
- Osaka Office: 06-6341-8250
- Tokyo Office: 050-3164-3774