ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher and, through integration in key research workflows such as manuscript and grant submission, supports automated linkages between you and your professional activities ensuring that your work is recognized. 

During the publication process, you may come across a request for an ORCID ID through a journal's manuscript submission system. ORCID is a registry of unique researcher identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers. Registering for an ORCID iD is free, as is searching the ORCID registry. ORCID records include non-sensitive information such as name, email, organization and research activities.

Organizations requiring ORCID IDs include: Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Thomson-Reuters, IEEE, AAAS, FDA, EMBL-EBI, PLoS, and PNAS.