Q&A MEMBERSHIP

Advan­tages
Eligi­bil­i­ty and Costs
Steps

What are the advan­tages  of using the KB data infrastructure?

  • KB trans­par­ent­ly informs users/members about the data quali­ty allow­ing for an informed use of biblio­met­ric data.
  • KB curates data with enriched infor­ma­tion on German insti­tu­tions, journals/publishers and addition­al indica­tors, increas­ing the infor­ma­tion value of the data.
  • KB’s unified and time-tested data schema eases data usage for many common analyt­i­cal inter­ests while facil­i­tat­ing complex analy­sis via flexi­ble access to raw data.
  • The longtime commu­ni­ty of experi­enced KB users will help with your partic­u­lar analyt­i­cal interests.
  • The for OpenAlex and Scopus simpli­fies database compar­isons and allows KB users to easily choose the most appro­pri­ate data source for their analyt­i­cal interest.
  • KB’s quarter­ly snapshots facil­i­tate the repro­ducibil­i­ty of analy­ses via archival routines and support biblio­met­ric monitor­ing via updat­ed data in time-consis­tent data formats.
  • KB’s frame­work licence for Scopus data and the KB data infra­struc­ture minimize usage barri­ers by stream­lin­ing and safeguard­ing the data access and subsi­diz­ing licenc­ing fees.
  • Want to learn more? These and other advan­tages are detailed in a journal article.

Eligi­bil­i­ty, Offer for Non-Eligi­ble Persons, Costs

Is my insti­tu­tion eligi­ble for member­ship in KB’s consortium?

  • Publicly financed research insti­tu­tions in Germany are eligi­ble for KB member­ship, and their employ­ees may make use of KB’s offerings.
  • Contrary persons without an employ­ment at an eligi­ble insti­tu­tion cannot partic­i­pate directly.

What does KB offer for non-eligi­ble third parties beyond the consor­tium partners?

  • Open, unrestrict­ed access to OpenAlex data processed and curat­ed by KB is avail­able to every­one openly via Google big query. Please note that Google charges for data usage after a free trial access.
  • Documen­ta­tion on the access and the data itself is provided

Are there any costs for member­ship or data access within KB?

  • KB member­ship, includ­ing usage of KB’s analyt­i­cal platform, is free for eligi­ble insti­tu­tions thanks to the funding by BMFTR
  • Any consor­tium members may apply for project funding to enhance KB’s offers on infra­struc­ture and on compe­ten­cies building.

Access to the propri­etary Scopus data requires the payment of a subsi­dized fee to Elsevi­er. Pure research projects with up to two users per eligi­ble insti­tu­tion are exempt­ed from this payment duty. OpenAlex can be analysed free of charges within KB’s analyt­i­cal platform.

Process­es for the Insti­tu­tion­al Membership

How can I synchro­nize my work plans with KB? Are there any time constraints?
• Eligi­ble insti­tu­tions can join KB at any time by signing up to the consor­tium agreement.
• Usage agree­ments are signed for each calen­dar year or for a multi-year period.
• KB has been funded since 2008. While KB’s current funding period ends in 2028, discus­sions on a contin­u­a­tion with KB’s funder BMFTR are sched­uled for 2027.
How does the process of joining KB and obtain­ing data access looks like? What do I need to do?

Step Who? What?
1: Contact­ing Inter­est­ed insti­tu­tion contacts KB manag­ing office at DZHW
(kb@dzhw.eu).
2: Infor­ma­tion KB office provides consor­tium agree­ment and, if required, informs about key points of Scopus frame­work licence agree­ment . Questions by inter­est­ed insti­tu­tion are resolved.
3: Consor­tium agreement
Inter­est­ed insti­tu­tion signs consor­tium agree­ment and becomes a KB consor­tium member. The public member list on KB’s website is updat­ed by KB office accordingly.
4: Access details

The new member insti­tu­tion provides KB office with names and corpo­rate e‑mail address­es of new KB users. Upon being informed by DZHW, FIZ Karlsruhe sets up respec­tive user accounts and sends intro­duc­to­ry infor­ma­tion for data access direct­ly to the new users.
5.1: Option­al SCP Licence If required, member insti­tu­tions may choose an appro­pri­ate catego­ry from KB’s Scopus frame­work licence.
5.2: Option­al SCP Licence

Member insti­tu­tion, KB’s office at DZHW and KB’s infra­struc­ture provider FIZ Karlsruhe sign joint usage agree­ment includ­ing the complete Scopus frame­work licence.
5.3: Option­al SCP Licence
Member insti­tu­tion signs amend­ment to frame­work licence with Elsevi­er. KB office is informed by Elsevi­er. Any payment oblig­a­tions are direct­ly cleared between the member insti­tu­tion and Elsevier.
5.4: optionale Scopus Lizenz

Account­ing for the maximum number of admit­table users accord­ing to the chosen licence catego­ry the member insti­tu­tion provides KB office with names and corpo­rate e‑mail address­es of respec­tive users. Upon being informed by DZHW, FIZ Karlsruhe endows the respec­tive user accounts with access to Scopus data.

An wen kann ich mich bei Fragen wenden?
• Bitte kontak­tieren Sie die KB-Geschäftsstelle am DZHW per E‑Mail unter kb@dzhw.eu. Vielen Dank für Ihr Interesse!