# Systemic Barriers in Digital Ecosystems: Can Academic IDs (ORCID) Replace Corporate IDs (D-U-N-S)?

**URL:** https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/systemic-barriers-in-digital-ecosystems-can-academic-ids-orcid-replace-corporate-ids-d-u-n-s/2483
**Category:** Open and replicable science
**Tags:** open-science
**Created:** [April 21, 2026, 6:07am UTC](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/systemic-barriers-in-digital-ecosystems-can-academic-ids-orcid-replace-corporate-ids-d-u-n-s/2483 "2026-04-21T06:07:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Rafet\_IRMAK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a587f6/32.png) [@Rafet\_IRMAK](https://onscienceandacademia.org/u/Rafet_IRMAK)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2026, 6:07am UTC](https://onscienceandacademia.org/t/systemic-barriers-in-digital-ecosystems-can-academic-ids-orcid-replace-corporate-ids-d-u-n-s/2483/1 "2026-04-21T06:07:57Z")

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Dear colleagues and open science advocates,

I would like to initiate a discussion regarding a structural barrier that independent researchers face when translating evidence-based findings into public digital tools.

Recently, I attempted to publish a health application on Google Play, which digitizes my peer-reviewed research on office exercises. However, the platform mandates a D-U-N-S number (a commercial/corporate identifier) for all apps in the Health & Fitness category to ensure “accountability and safety.” Due to the loss of my institutional affiliation, establishing a commercial entity is not a viable option for me as an independent researcher.

This situation highlights a systemic flaw in current digital ecosystems: they equate reliability almost exclusively with commercial structures.

**The Argument:** A commercial registration (D-U-N-S) does not guarantee the scientific validity or safety of a health application. In contrast, academic identifiers like **ORCID** or **Web of Science (WoS) ResearcherID** provide a rigorous, transparent, and globally verifiable record of an individual’s expertise, peer-reviewed output, and ethical standing.

In the spirit of open science, tech platforms should integrate these academic IDs as a valid alternative verification pathway for independent scientific developers.

I invite the community’s perspective on the following points:

1. **Visibility of Independent Science:** How can independent researchers publish evidence-based digital tools without being forced to establish commercial entities?
2. **Advocacy for Policy Change:** How can the open science community encourage major tech ecosystems to recognize ORCID as a valid standard for accountability and user safety?

I look forward to hearing your insights or similar experiences.

Best regards,

**Rafet IRMAK, PT, PhD**