From its origins as the International Geo Sample Number over two decades ago, IGSN has evolved into a widely recognised persistent identifier for physical objects. Now known as the International Generic Sample Number, it assigns unique, persistent identifiers to physical samples across disciplines—from geoscience to archaeology and materials science. Managed by IGSN e.V. and strengthened through a strategic partnership with DataCite, IGSN has grown rapidly, surpassing 14.8 million registered samples by February 2026.
Today, IGSN is evolving to meet modern research needs. It will integrate into the global PID Graph, linking with identifiers like ORCID and ROR to enhance data connectivity and machine readability. At the same time, efforts to align IGSN with international standards and ontologies are improving interoperability across disciplines. Together, these advances position IGSN as a vital backbone for FAIR, connected, and future-ready scientific data ecosystems worldwide.