The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a globally unique, persistent identifier for physical samples - rock samples, sediment cores, water samples, biological specimens, cultural heritage objects, and many more.

They enable:

• persistent citation of samples
• interoperability across repositories
• integration into the global PID ecosystem
• machine-actionable linking between samples, datasets, publications, projects, people and instruments

This page serves as:

• a mapping of IGSN-related activities within and around NFDI
• an overview of available IGSN services
• a curated collection of training and guidance materials
• a coordination space for ongoing and planned activities

IGSN e.V.

• Governing body of the IGSN system and metadata schema
• Defines policies, governance and development roadmap
• Provides documentation and resources
• https://ev.igsn.org/

DataCite

DataCite became the technical registrar for IGSN IDs in 2022. Any DataCite member repository can register IGSN IDs, provided they meet the metadata requirements.

• Service: DataCite IGSN ID: https://support.datacite.org/docs/igsn-ids
• Metadata recommendations: https://support.datacite.org/docs/igsn-id-metadata-recommendations

IGSNs are used across a wide range of scientific disciplines and heritage domains. Below is an overview of active communities and initiatives.

Earth and Environmental Sciences

IGSNs originated in the geoscience community and remain most widely adopted here. Key institutions and projects include:

• GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences - One of the leading IGSN implementers in Germany. GFZ Data Services operates an IGSN service and has published detailed implementation exemplars (see the DataCite blog post on https://datacite.org/blog/igsn-id-implementation-exemplars-gfz-data-services/). GFZ also hosts the IGSN e.V. secretariat.
• Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC) – Earth and Environment Hub – Operated the FAIR WISH project (with partners AWI, Hereon and GFZ), which developed discipline-specific IGSN metadata schemas and semi-automated workflows for IGSN registration. FAIR WISH results feed into the follow-up project FAIR AIMS.
• NFDI4Earth – The German NFDI consortium for Earth System Sciences. Its User Support Network (USN) at GFZ Data Services provides support for IGSN assignment to physical samples and collections.

Archaeology / Cultural Heritage

A growing international community is establishing IGSN use for cultural heritage samples:

• Heritage Samples / E-RIHS – An international consortium (including CNRS, Getty Conservation Institute and others) is building an IGSN service for cultural heritage. A rough landing page exists at heritagesamples.org. A community survey to reach relevant communities is being prepared.
• The crosswalks between the IGSN core schema and heritage metadata have been published: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17446558
• The original Archaeology metadata schema: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17254975
• A working Heritage Samples Data Architecture (HSDA) profile on GitHub: https://github.com/E-RIHS/HSDA/blob/main/schema/Sample-v0.8.schema.json

Registering IGSN IDs with DataCite

https://support.datacite.org/docs/igsn-id-registration-guide

GFZ Data Services - Sample Catalogue

https://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de/igsn-new/

Uni Kiel IGSN Service

• The Kiel IGSN service is operated by the Zentralen Forschungsdatenmanagement und Rechenzentrums at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
• Documentation (DE): https://igsn.uni-kiel.de/documentation/de/

ARDC IGSN Service (Australia)

The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) provides a dedicated IGSN service, primarily for Australian researchers but relevant as a reference implementation.

• Service documentation: https://documentation.ardc.edu.au/igsn/igsn-service-overview
• IGSN Service Access: https://documentation.ardc.edu.au/igsn/igsn-service-access
• Metadata guide: https://documentation.ardc.edu.au/igsn/igsn-descriptive-metadata

FAIR-Impact

FAIR-Impact FAIR-Impact is a European project supporting the practical implementation of FAIR principles across research infrastructures, including guidance, support actions, and community coordination relevant to persistent identifiers such as IGSNs.
https://fair-impact.eu/

FAIR WISH

FAIR WISH (FAIR Workflows for IGSN-based Sample Handling) was a Helmholtz-led project that developed domain-specific IGSN metadata profiles and semi-automated workflows to facilitate standardized sample registration and interoperability in Earth and environmental sciences.
https://helmholtz-metadaten.de/de/inf-projects/fair-wish

FAIR AIMS

FAIR AIMS builds on the outcomes of FAIR WISH to further operationalise IGSN-based sample identification by refining metadata profiles, improving integration into infrastructure workflows, and strengthening cross-community adoption.
https://www.gfz.de/sektion/daten-und-informationsmanagement/projekte/fair-aims

Forschungsdaten.org

• https://www.forschungsdaten.org/index.php/IGSN

IGSN e.V.

• https://ev.igsn.org/resources

DataCite

• Support: https://support.datacite.org/docs/igsn-ids
• Implementation example GFZ: https://datacite.org/blog/igsn-id-implementation-exemplars-gfz-data-services/
• Metadata Recommendations: https://support.datacite.org/docs/igsn-id-metadata-recommendations

Helmholtz HMC Earth and Environment

• FAQ page: https://helmholtz-metadaten.de/de/erde-und-umwelt/faq-igsn
• HMC wiki on IGSN: https://earth-and-environment.helmholtz-metadaten.de/wiki/doku.php?id=wiki:1_fair-building-blocks:0_pid:3_igsn:start

Output of FAIR WISH project (Helmholtz)

• https://helmholtz-metadaten.de/inf-projects/fair-wish
• https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU23/EGU23-13514.html
• https://helmholtz-metadaten.de/inf-projects/fairaims

IGSN Service der Universität Kiel

Dokumentation des IGSN-Dienstes des Zentralen Forschungsdatenmanagements und Rechenzentrums der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel https://igsn.uni-kiel.de/documentation/de/

ARDC

• https://documentation.ardc.edu.au/igsn/igsn-service-overview
• Descriptive Metadata for Earth Science: https://documentation.ardc.edu.au/igsn/igsn-descriptive-metadata

Archeology

• development of an international IGSN service for cultural heritage: https://heritagesamples.org/
• crosswalks https://zenodo.org/records/17446558
• original Archaeology metadata schema https://zenodo.org/records/17254975
• working profile for heritage samples on GitHub: https://github.com/E-RIHS/HSDA/blob/main/schema/Sample-v0.8.schema.json