> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.researchgate.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.researchgate.net/research-and-publications/open-archive-initiative.md).

# Open Archive Initiative

#### **Page contents** <a href="#openarchivesinitiative-whatistheopenarchivesinitiative" id="openarchivesinitiative-whatistheopenarchivesinitiative"></a>

* [What is the Open Archives Initiative?](#openarchivesinitiative-whatistheopenarchivesinitiative-1)
* [My online repository has scientific content. How can I add it to ResearchGate?](#openarchivesinitiative-myonlinerepositoryhasscientificcontent.howcaniaddittoresearchgate)
* [How do I make my repository compatible with the Open Archives Initiative Protocol?](#openarchivesinitiative-howdoimakemyrepositorycompatiblewiththeopenarchivesinitiativeprotocol)

#### **What is the Open Archives Initiative?** <a href="#openarchivesinitiative-whatistheopenarchivesinitiative" id="openarchivesinitiative-whatistheopenarchivesinitiative"></a>

The Open Archives Initiative (OAI) creates standards and protocols for the interoperability and dissemination of content. Repositories that follow OAI standard metadata protocols benefit by making their data easily accessible to service providers, allowing their content to reach a wider audience.

If you want to add publications from your digital repository to ResearchGate, the best way to do this is by using the **Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting** (OAI-PMH). We explain more about this below. Once your server software has this functionality enabled, [get in touch](https://www.researchgate.net/contact) and we'll determine if the content is right for ResearchGate. The more complete the metadata on repositories is, the more likely the content will be added to ResearchGate.

#### **My online repository has scientific content. How can I add it to ResearchGate?** <a href="#openarchivesinitiative-myonlinerepositoryhasscientificcontent.howcaniaddittoresearchgate" id="openarchivesinitiative-myonlinerepositoryhasscientificcontent.howcaniaddittoresearchgate"></a>

The best way to add publications from your digital repository to ResearchGate is by using the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH). Find out how to make your repository compatible below.

Once your repository is compatible, you can get the process started by [getting in touch](https://www.researchgate.net/contact), so we can determine whether your content is right for ResearchGate. To speed up the process, we ask that you provide us with the following details:

* What type of content is in the repository that you believe should be added to ResearchGate?
* Does the content include full-texts or only metadata?
* What attributes are included in the XML metadata of the content on your repository?
* What is the URL of your digital repository and its OAI-PMH API?

Once you provide us with the above information, we will begin verifying your server's content to determine whether to add the publications to ResearchGate.

#### **How do I make my repository compatible with the Open Archives Initiative Protocol?** <a href="#openarchivesinitiative-howdoimakemyrepositorycompatiblewiththeopenarchivesinitiativeprotocol" id="openarchivesinitiative-howdoimakemyrepositorycompatiblewiththeopenarchivesinitiativeprotocol"></a>

If your repository is not set up with the Open Archives Initiative Protocol, there are many ways to make that possible. The OAI website is equipped with guides and resources to help you set up your server. Most major server software for digital library repositories has OAI-PMH functionality built in, and simply needs to be enabled by your system administrator.

To find out if your repository is already capable of quickly adding OAI-PMH functionality, learn more here: <http://www.openarchives.org/pmh/tools/>

If you do not have a server that is compatible with the Open Archives Initiative, you can find out more about how to make your server OAI compatible here: <http://www.openarchives.org/pmh/>


---

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