B2INST is a Persistent Identifier (PID) service that is designed to persistently register, describe and reference instruments and equipment. By uniquely identifying instruments, describing them with metadata and ensuring they are reliably citable, B2INST aims to address gaps in research data management and enhance the reproducibility of scientific results.
B2INST provides unique, stable, globally resolvable identifiers for scientific instruments and research equipment. This allows researchers to unambiguously reference and cite the instruments used in their research, thereby promoting transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration. Assigning a persistent identifier to each instrument can also support tracking of instrument usage.
The metadata management uses the RDA-endorsed PIDINST metadata schema to capture details such as the instrument's name, model, owner and manufacturer. This provides the basis for standardised information exchange.
Additionally, the community features allow research communities to extend metadata schemas, implement moderation workflows, and apply their own branding.