Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK)

Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) — connector documentation

• MCP endpoint: https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/mcp
• REST API: POST https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/v1/tools/{tool_name}, described by the OpenAPI 3.1 spec at https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/openapi.json
• Transport: Streamable HTTP, stateless, MCP specification 2025-06-18 or later
• Authentication: your own Open Alex Reference Data OpenAlex API key, sent in the X-Upstream-Key header of every request (never stored, logged or cached)
• Health: https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/health · Tool schemas: https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/tools.json
• Publisher: Unify Dynamics LLC · connectorbay.com/byok-openalex-reference · agent@connectorbay.com

What Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) is for

Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) lets an AI assistant read your own Open Alex Reference Data data through the Open Alex Reference Data API with a key you supply (OpenAlex API key). Read-only: 12 tools (search_publishers, get_publisher, search_awards, get_award, list_countries, get_country, list_languages, list_licenses, list_domains, list_fields, list_subfields, search_keywords). The BYOK key travels with each request, is used for that one call only and is never stored, logged or cached; it is only ever sent to api.openalex.org. Unofficial connector by Unify Dynamics LLC: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Open Alex Reference Data. Open Alex Reference Data and its logos are trademarks of their owners and are used only to say which service the connector works with.

Ask your assistant things like:

• "Which publishers in the Netherlands have the most works?"
• "Show the OpenAlex record of publisher P4310319965"
• "Find research awards about CRISPR funded by the NIH"
• "Show the OpenAlex award G5066037109"
• "Give me the ISO codes and continent of the countries in OpenAlex"
• "Show the OpenAlex record of country DE"

What it does

• search_publishers: Search scholarly publishers with their parent/imprint hierarchy, countries, homepage and counts of works and citations. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• get_publisher: Get one publisher by OpenAlex id: hierarchy, countries, homepage, external ids (ROR, Wikidata) and counts. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• search_awards: Search research grants and awards with funder, funder award number, funding type, amount, years and number of funded works (no investigator names). List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• get_award: Get one research award by OpenAlex id: title, funder, award number, amount, years and provenance. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• list_countries: List countries with ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 and alpha-3 codes, continent, Global South flag, Wikidata id and counts of works. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• get_country: Get one country by ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code: names, alpha-3 code, continent, ids and counts. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• list_languages: List the languages work metadata can be in, with ISO 639-1 code in the id and counts of works. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• list_licenses: List the open-access licenses a work location can carry, with name, URL, description and counts of works. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• list_domains: List the four top-level domains of the OpenAlex subject classification, with their fields and counts. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• list_fields: List the 26 fields of the OpenAlex subject classification, each with its domain and subfields. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• list_subfields: List subfields of the OpenAlex subject classification with their parent field and domain. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.
• search_keywords: Search the OpenAlex keyword vocabulary (short topic-derived phrases) with counts of tagged works. List calls cost a small amount of the key's daily budget (free keys have about one US dollar per day); lookups of a single record are cheaper.

BYOK key

You bring your own Open Alex Reference Data OpenAlex API key (https://openalex.org/settings/api). Your assistant sends it in the X-Upstream-Key header with each request. ConnectorBay uses it for that one call only: it is never stored, logged or cached, never shown in an answer, and it is only sent to api.openalex.org over https, with no redirects followed. Create a key with the fewest permissions the tools need (read-only if the provider offers it), and revoke it at the provider whenever you like.

Data sources

• https://help.openalex.org/openapi.json (the API this connector calls, with a BYOK key)

Live from the Open Alex Reference Data API (api.openalex.org) with a BYOK key; documentation: https://help.openalex.org/openapi.json. Endpoints checked against that documentation on 2026-10-16.

What it is not

Unofficial connector by Unify Dynamics LLC: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Open Alex Reference Data. Open Alex Reference Data and its logos are trademarks of their owners and are used only to say which service the connector works with. It is read-only: it never creates, changes, sends or deletes anything in your Open Alex Reference Data account.

Built for: Worldwide. Languages: English.

Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) — Privacy Policy

Effective 24 October 2026. Unify Dynamics LLC ("we", "us"), Menlo Park, California.

What Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) is. Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) is a connector (an MCP server and REST API) that an AI assistant calls on your behalf to read your own Open Alex Reference Data data: Look up OpenAlex publishers, grants, countries, languages, licenses, keywords and the domain, field and subfield classification with your own API key. You bring your own Open Alex Reference Data OpenAlex API key; the assistant sends it to us with each request.

BYOK key. The key you supply is used to make the one Open Alex Reference Data call you asked for. Our application does not store it, write it to a log, put it in a cache, or share it. It is sent only to api.openalex.org, over https, and is removed from any text we return to you or your assistant. We do not follow redirects with your key. If Open Alex Reference Data rejects it, we say so without repeating it.

What we receive. The arguments of each tool call, the BYOK key (for that call only), the technical headers needed to serve the request (an IP address or a client identifier supplied by the assistant) and standard server logs. What Open Alex Reference Data receives. The request we make on your behalf, including the key and the arguments, under Open Alex Reference Data's own terms and privacy policy. Open Alex Reference Data acts at your direction and is the only recipient of the data of your request besides our hosting provider.

What we return. The answer Open Alex Reference Data gives for your request, trimmed to the fields the tool documents. We do not keep it: it is returned to your assistant and not stored, cached or used to train anything.

What we do not do. We do not build a profile, sell or share personal information, or keep your Open Alex Reference Data data. Rate-limit counters (a client identifier and timestamps) are held in memory for at most 24 hours. Hosting access logs (IP addresses, request paths and status codes) are kept for up to 30 days for security and abuse prevention; our application adds no request headers or bodies to them.

Sub-processors. Open Alex Reference Data (the API you call with a BYOK key, at your direction). Hosting: Vercel (United States regions).

Your rights. Because we store no personal data beyond short-lived logs, requests to access, correct or delete data are usually satisfied automatically; you can still contact agent@connectorbay.com and we will respond within 30 days. Revoke your key at Open Alex Reference Data at any time to end all access.

Children. Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) is a general-audience service operated by the adult using the assistant, under Open Alex Reference Data's own age rules.

Changes. We will post changes here with a new effective date.

Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) — Terms of Service

Effective 24 October 2026. These terms govern use of the Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) connector ("the Service") operated by Unify Dynamics LLC ("we", "us").

1. The Service. Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) provides: Look up OpenAlex publishers, grants, countries, languages, licenses, keywords and the domain, field and subfield classification with your own API key. It is accessed through an AI assistant or directly over MCP or HTTP, and is read-only.
2. Your own key, your own account. You must use your own Open Alex Reference Data credentials and only access data you are allowed to access. Open Alex Reference Data's terms apply to your use of Open Alex Reference Data; you are responsible for complying with them, including any rate limits and permitted uses. Do not share a key you do not own.
3. Independent. Unofficial connector by Unify Dynamics LLC: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Open Alex Reference Data. Open Alex Reference Data and its logos are trademarks of their owners and are used only to say which service the connector works with.
4. No advice, no guarantees. Output is the data Open Alex Reference Data returns, lightly trimmed; it may be incomplete, delayed or changed by Open Alex Reference Data. Check important facts at the source.
5. Read-only. The Service does not create, change, send or delete anything in your Open Alex Reference Data account.
6. Acceptable use. Automated use within the published rate limits is welcome. Do not use the Service to access data you are not entitled to, to circumvent Open Alex Reference Data's controls, or to attack any system.
7. Availability. The Service is provided "as is" without warranty. We may change, limit or discontinue it at any time; Open Alex Reference Data may change or end its API at any time.
8. Data. Our Privacy Policy describes what we process. In short: the BYOK key is used for the one call and not stored or logged.
9. Pro keys. Optional ConnectorBay Pro API keys are issued at our discretion and are separate from your Open Alex Reference Data key.
10. Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Unify Dynamics LLC is not liable for any loss arising from use of or reliance on the Service, including any action Open Alex Reference Data takes on your account. Our total liability is limited to US $100.
11. Governing law. California law; venue in San Mateo County, California.
12. Contact. Unify Dynamics LLC · agent@connectorbay.com · https://connectorbay.com/byok-openalex-reference

Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) support

Email agent@connectorbay.com. We answer within two business days.

• MCP endpoint: https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/mcp
• REST API: https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/openapi.json
• Live status: https://byok-openalex-reference.connectorbay.com/health

When you report a problem, include the question you asked your agent, roughly when, and which agent you used (for example Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini). Never send us passwords, account numbers or ID numbers. Open Alex Reference Data (BYOK) never asks for them.