CORE.ac.uk

CORE.ac.uk is a free and comprehensive aggregation service for open-access research outputs. It is widely recognized for its commitment to making scientific knowledge freely available to everyone. CORE focuses on collecting, preserving, and providing access to academic content, including journal articles, conference papers, theses, and other research materials.

Purpose and Mission

CORE's mission is to facilitate unrestricted access to research outputs, promoting the dissemination of scientific knowledge and fostering innovation. It aligns with the global open-access movement, which seeks to remove paywalls and other barriers to academic research.

Key Features and Functionality

Extensive Database

CORE aggregates content from thousands of institutional repositories, journal publishers, and open-access repositories worldwide. This makes it one of the largest collections of freely available academic materials.

Content Diversity

Users can access a wide variety of resources, such as preprints, postprints, published articles, theses, and technical reports, spanning numerous disciplines.

Search and Discovery Tools

CORE provides robust search capabilities, allowing users to find relevant research via keywords, author names, or institutions. It employs advanced algorithms to ensure accurate and meaningful results.

Integration with other platforms

CORE offers APIs for developers, enabling seamless integration with other systems, such as library catalogs and research management platforms.

Machine Learning and Text Mining

CORE incorporates machine learning techniques to improve search results and offers tools for text mining. This enables researchers to analyze large datasets for trends, insights, and patterns.

Open Data Access

CORE ensures that its content is openly accessible and adheres to principles of interoperability, allowing others to reuse its data under permissive licenses.

Repository Dashboard

This provides a dashboard for repository managers to track the performance of their repositories and ensure that their content is discoverable.

Global Reach

CORE supports a truly global audience by partnering with institutions and repositories from numerous countries.

Target audience

CORE is designed for a diverse range of users, including the following:

Researchers

To access free academic content and keep up with developments in their fields.

Students

To find resources for their studies without encountering paywalls.

Developers and Innovators

To use its API for building tools and conducting text mining projects.

Institutions and Libraries

To increase the visibility of their research outputs and integrate CORE data into their systems.

Impact on the Research Community

CORE has a significant impact by democratizing access to academic research. It helps reduce the inequity in access to scientific knowledge, particularly for researchers and institutions in developing countries that may lack subscriptions to expensive journals. It also aids in compliance with open-access mandates set by funding agencies and governments.

Sustainability and Funding

CORE operates under a sustainable funding model, supported by partnerships, grants, and institutional contributions. This allows it to maintain its free access model while continuing to innovate and expand its services.