APICURON: a reactive infrastructure for credit attribution across distributed research data ecosystems

Abstract

Data-driven biology relies on structured knowledge generated by expert biocurators, yet this work remains largely unrecognized in traditional academic assessments. To bridge this gap, we present the updated APICURON platform, a credit-attribution infrastructure that formally acknowledges these scientific contributions. Rather than relying on delayed batch reporting, the system captures curation events as they happen and transforms them into verifiable units of work. This design allows independent resources to define and update their own recognition models while preserving the historical record of each contribution. For researchers, APICURON highlights recent activity alongside lifetime achievements and connects verified activities to persistent academic profiles via ORCID. APICURON has been successfully integrated across biological knowledgebases and data resources, demonstrating its application to diverse workflows. Extending beyond biodata resources, it also supports recognition of non-traditional research artefacts, including training materials and research software, without imposing a rigid definition of contribution.