As part of its efforts to strengthen research visibility, interoperability and Open Science practices across the Arab region, ASREN launched the ORCID Champions initiative, with support from the ORCID Global Participation Fund (GPF).

The initiative builds on ASREN’s ongoing collaboration with ORCID to raise awareness of persistent researcher identifiers and their foundational role in seamlessly connecting researchers with their scientific contributions, home institutions, and research outputs.

It aims to develop an empowered community of regional advocates who can promote ORCID adoption and understanding within their institutions and wider scientific ecosystems. This mission aligns closely with the objectives of the EUMEDplus project, particularly its work to promote persistent identifiers, reinforce research visibility and interoperability, and advance Open Science practices across the Mediterranean and Arab region.

Building the Community

Following an open, competitive call for applications, ASREN selected eight ORCID Champions representing different countries and multidisciplinary professional backgrounds across the region including Algeria, Egypt, KSA, Morocco, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, and UAE. The selected Champions joined a dedicated onboarding session introducing them to the initiative, its objectives and their role as regional advocates.

Champions Collaborative Dialogue
Community Network

As part of their structured engagement, the Champions were invited to an ORCID Awareness Session led by Paloma Marín-Arraiza, PhD, Associate Director of Engagement at ORCID. The session provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of ORCID, its role in the research ecosystem, and explore ways to promote awareness and adoption within their institutions and communities.

To support the Champions in their outreach, ASREN also prepared a dedicated Arabic ORCID toolkit that includes translated ORCID resources, flyers, tutorial videos and practical guidelines. These resources provide Champions with ready-to-use materials to support awareness and engagement within their institutions and communities.

From Training to Local Action

Having completed their initial onboarding and specialized training activities, the Champions are now actively embarking upon the initiative's operational phase: formulating their Action Grant plans.

These grants will enable Champions to translate their learning into practical activities responding to the needs of their institutions and communities. Depending on their backgrounds and local contexts, proposed activities may include ORCID awareness sessions for researchers, students, editors or research offices; institutional or repository readiness reviews; ORCID profile clinics; peer-to-peer outreach; development of awareness and training materials; or other locally relevant activities that support ORCID adoption. The support provided through the ORCID Global Participation Fund is designed to help move the initiative from awareness to practical, locally led action. Through training, Arabic outreach resources and Action Grants, Champions are equipped not only to understand and advocate for ORCID, but also to initiate activities that can contribute to its wider adoption within their communities.

Lombe Tembo
“It is encouraging to see the ASREN ORCID Champions initiative take shape. Building a network of people who can advocate for ORCID within their own institutions and communities is a really valuable way of supporting sustainable adoption across the region. I look forward to seeing what the Champions go on to achieve through the Action Grants.”
Lombe Tembo Senior Grant Program Officer/Engagement Lead at ORCID

By equipping regional advocates with knowledge, resources and support for locally led activities, the initiative aims to create a multiplier effect—carrying the conversation around ORCID beyond ASREN-led forums and into the daily practices of research institutions and communities across the region.

What Comes Next?

The coming phase will focus on supporting Champions as they develop and implement their Action Grants, while continuing to provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, guidance and collaboration.

Together, these coordinated efforts form a cornerstone of a vibrant regional movement towards stronger research identity, amplified international visibility of Arab scientific output, and connected, interoperable Open Science ecosystems across the region.

Related Initiatives & Resources

ASREN–ORCID Consortium

Explore membership benefits, onboarding assistance, and institutional integration support in the Arab region.

EUMEDplus Project

Advancing Open Science frameworks, connectivity infrastructure, and persistent identifier services.

ORCID Official Global Portal

Learn more about persistent digital identifiers and global interoperability standards.