# How to connect OpenAlex to Claude Cowork

```json
{
  "title": "How to connect OpenAlex to Claude Cowork",
  "toolkit": "OpenAlex",
  "toolkit_slug": "openalex",
  "framework": "Claude Cowork",
  "framework_slug": "claude-cowork",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/claude-cowork",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/claude-cowork.md",
  "updated_at": "2026-08-28T05:40:00.909Z"
}
```

## Introduction

Cowork is Anthropic's AI agent for knowledge work. Think of it as Claude Code for everything else. It works autonomously with your computer, local files, and applications to accomplish complex tasks.
This guide walks you through the easiest and most secure way to connect your OpenAlex account to Cowork via Composio Connect, enabling it to find recent papers on causal inference, list top authors in linguistics field, get citation count for a DOI, and more such actions on your behalf without compromising your account security.

## Also integrate OpenAlex with

- [ChatGPT Work](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/chatgpt)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/hermes-agent)

## Connect OpenAlex to Claude Cowork

### Connecting OpenAlex to Claude Cowork
1. Open Customize
In Claude Desktop, click Customize in the left sidebar, then select Connectors and click the + icon at the top.
2. Add the Composio MCP server
Click Add custom connector and paste in the Composio MCP server URL:

```bash
https://connect.composio.dev/mcp
```

## What is Claude Cowork?

Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agent for general knowledge work. It can use your computer, files, and connected applications to complete longer-running tasks across your work tools.
With Composio Connect, Cowork can securely access apps like OpenAlex through MCP without you sharing account credentials directly with the agent.

## What is the OpenAlex MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The OpenAlex MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your OpenAlex account. It provides structured and secure access so your agent can perform OpenAlex operations on your behalf.

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `OPENALEX_ADD_COLLECTION_ENTITIES` | Add Collection Entities | Bulk-add one or more matching OpenAlex entity IDs to an owned collection without duplicating existing memberships. |
| `OPENALEX_AUTOCOMPLETE_ENTITIES` | Autocomplete Entities | Resolve a partial name or title to likely OpenAlex entity IDs before filtering or retrieving metadata. |
| `OPENALEX_CREATE_COLLECTION` | Create Collection | Create a private, single-entity-type OpenAlex collection, optionally with an initial bounded set of entity IDs. |
| `OPENALEX_DELETE_COLLECTION` | Delete Collection | Permanently delete exactly one owned private OpenAlex collection and all of its collection memberships. This does not delete the underlying OpenAlex entities. |
| `OPENALEX_DOWNLOAD_WORK_CONTENT` | Download Work Content | Download an OpenAlex-cached PDF or gzipped GROBID TEI file for a work. Choose the format matching the work's has_content flags. Each call currently costs $0.01, and source copyright terms still apply. |
| `OPENALEX_GET_COLLECTION` | Get Collection | Get metadata for one private OpenAlex collection owned by the connected user. |
| `OPENALEX_GET_ENTITY` | Get Metadata Entity | Retrieve one OpenAlex work, author, source, institution, topic, keyword, publisher, funder, award, taxonomy item, country, continent, or language by its supported identifier. Returns the provider's entity object directly; use select to limit its top-level fields. |
| `OPENALEX_GET_RATE_LIMIT_STATUS` | Get Rate Limit Status | Validate the connected OpenAlex API key and inspect daily budget, prepaid balance, reset timing, and current endpoint costs before expensive queries or downloads. |
| `OPENALEX_LIST_COLLECTION_ENTITIES` | List Collection Entities | List one page of entity IDs in an owned private collection together with collection metadata and page totals. |
| `OPENALEX_LIST_MY_COLLECTIONS` | List My Collections | List private OpenAlex collections owned by the connected API-key user, optionally finding collections that contain an entity. |
| `OPENALEX_QUERY_ENTITIES` | Query Metadata Entities | Search, filter, sort, sample, select, or group one OpenAlex metadata resource other than works, including authors, venues, organizations, taxonomy, geography, awards, and enumerations. Returns one cursor-controlled page. |
| `OPENALEX_QUERY_WORKS` | Query Works | Search, filter, sort, sample, select, or group scholarly works. Returns one cursor-controlled page and its OpenAlex query cost; use the snapshot for whole-catalog exports. |
| `OPENALEX_REMOVE_COLLECTION_ENTITIES` | Remove Collection Entities | Bulk-remove one or more entity memberships from an owned private OpenAlex collection without deleting the underlying OpenAlex entities. |
| `OPENALEX_UPDATE_COLLECTION` | Update Collection | Update a private collection's name or description, or change its entity type while the collection is empty. Provide at least one of display_name, description, or entity_type. |

## Supported Triggers

None listed.

## Creating MCP Server - Stand-alone vs Composio SDK

The OpenAlex MCP server connects Claude Cowork to your OpenAlex account through Composio. Once connected, Cowork can use the available OpenAlex tools and triggers to complete tasks on your behalf.

## Complete Code

None listed.

## How to build OpenAlex MCP Agent with another framework

- [ChatGPT Work](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/chatgpt)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/hermes-agent)

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and OpenAlex MCP?

With a standalone OpenAlex MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of OpenAlex tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from OpenAlex and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

### Can I use Tool Router MCP with Claude Cowork?

Yes, you can. Claude Cowork fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right OpenAlex tools.

### Can I manage the permissions and scopes for OpenAlex while using Tool Router?

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which OpenAlex scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

### How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your OpenAlex data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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