IOP Publishing (IOPP), a scientific publisher advancing open science, has announced the implementation of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for supplementary research data files submitted alongside primary articles. This initiative is designed to make supplementary materials more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reproducible (FAIR), aligning with ongoing global efforts to support research transparency and increase the discoverability and impact of data.
Supplementary files have traditionally been less accessible and harder to cite, limiting their influence within the scientific record. By assigning DOIs, IOPP enables these research components to become formally citable and more visible within digital environments, enhancing authors' ability to receive recognition for a broader spectrum of research contributions.
Among the key benefits for authors and the wider research community, the initiative ensures that supplementary data will appear prominently on article landing pages, gain dedicated ‘article’ pages on IOPscience, and be indexed for improved visibility through search engines. This change also supports compliance with funder policies that require the open sharing of data from publicly funded research.
The introduction of DOIs for supplementary content was prompted by community feedback. A survey conducted among researchers publishing with IOPP identified improved linkage between articles and associated data as a top priority. Researchers also expressed support for the use of persistent identifiers following a successful trial implementation across selected journals.
A previous 2020 study had already indicated that research articles with linked data benefit from a measurable citation advantage, highlighting the value of making such materials more accessible. IOPP’s current efforts reflect its ongoing commitment to strengthening open data infrastructure, supporting reproducibility, and enabling researchers to receive appropriate credit for a wider range of scholarly outputs.
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