Definition · Plain-language
Zenodo
Zenodo is a general-purpose, open-access repository developed under the European OpenAIRE program and hosted by CERN, allowing researchers to share scientific outputs.
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Preservation and Funding
Zenodo was launched in 2013 to support European open science policies. While funded by the European Commission, it is open to researchers worldwide across all scientific disciplines. Submissions are hosted in CERN's highly secure data centre, guaranteeing that data remains preserved and accessible online indefinitely, regardless of the researcher's institutional affiliation. This infrastructure ensures the long-term preservation of digital outputs, helping researchers comply with funder mandates for open data. By providing a stable, non-commercial archiving solution, Zenodo plays a critical role in the global open science ecosystem, enabling the reuse and verification of scientific research long after projects have concluded.
GitHub Integration for Software Citation
Software is a critical research output, but traditional academic publishing struggles to cite it properly. Zenodo solves this by integrating directly with GitHub. When a developer creates a release on GitHub, Zenodo automatically takes a snapshot of the repository, stores it in its archive, and assigns a DOI. This process allows developers to get academic credit for their code. By creating a permanent record of specific software versions, Zenodo improves the reproducibility of computational research. Other scientists can download the exact code used in a study, ensuring they can replicate findings or build upon the software in their own work easily.
Flexible Metadata and Licensing
Unlike specialised repositories with rigid schemas, Zenodo accepts any file format up to 50 GB per upload. It supports flexible metadata descriptions, allowing users to link uploads to grants, publications, and ORCID profiles. Authors retain control over licensing, choosing from open-access, restricted, or closed licenses to protect intellectual property when necessary. This flexibility allows researchers to share a wide range of outputs, including raw datasets, presentations, and posters. By supporting standardised metadata, Zenodo ensures that these materials are discoverable by global search engines, increasing the visibility and impact of the researcher's work to the global scientific community. This broad accessibility supports global open-science initiatives by making academic work freely available to the public.
Key facts
At a glance
- Zenodo is operated by CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, and OpenAIRE.
- It accepts any file format up to 50 GB per upload, with larger allocations available upon request.
- The platform assigns a free, permanent DOI to every uploaded research object.
- It integrates with GitHub to automate the archiving and citation of software code.
- All data is stored in CERN's high-capacity, long-term digital preservation infrastructure.
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: Zenodo only accepts research funded by European grants.
Actually: Zenodo is free and open to all researchers globally, regardless of their discipline, institution, or source of funding.
Often heard: Uploading a dataset to Zenodo counts as peer-reviewed publication.
Actually: Zenodo is a repository, not a journal. It performs basic spam checks but does not peer-review submissions; research quality must be evaluated independently.
Often heard: Once uploaded, files on Zenodo can be deleted or changed at any time.
Actually: To maintain academic integrity, Zenodo does not permit the deletion of files that have been assigned a DOI, though authors can upload newer versions.
Common questions
FAQ
Is it free to upload datasets to Zenodo?+
Yes. Zenodo is entirely free for both authors and readers. It is funded by the European Commission and CERN as part of their commitment to open science infrastructure.
Can I upload sensitive or confidential data to Zenodo?+
Zenodo does not support HIPAA-compliant or highly sensitive personal data. If data is restricted, you can upload it with "restricted access" where users must request permission, but open repositories are generally not suited for highly confidential files.
