Global Papers MCP Server

Unified International Academic Paper Search MCP Server - Integrating OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef, and arXiv APIs

⚡ Quick Start (5 minutes)

🎯 2 Deployment Methods

Method 1: Railway (Easiest - Recommended!)

Automatic deployment just by pushing to GitHub!

1. Push to GitHub

   cd global-papers-mcp
   git init && git add . && git commit -m "Initial commit"
   git remote add origin https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/global-papers-mcp.git
   git push -u origin main

2. Connect to Railway

   • Visit https://railway.app

   • Sign in with GitHub

   • New Project → Deploy from GitHub repo

   • Select global-papers-mcp → Deploy Now

3. Check Domain

   • Settings → Networking → Generate Domain

   • Copy URL: https://xxx.up.railway.app/mcp

4. Connect to Claude.ai

   • Settings → Connectors → Add Connector

   • Enter URL → Save

Done! 🎉

Detailed guide: RAILWAY_DEPLOY.md

Method 2: Fly.io (Advanced Users)

Automatic deployment script:

# Mac/Linux
./deploy.sh

# Windows
deploy.bat

Detailed guide: ONE_CLICK_DEPLOY.md

Related MCP server: Crossref Academic MCP Server

📋 Table of Contents

• Quick Overview

• Overview

• Key Features

• Installation and Execution

  • Local Execution

  • Fly.io Deployment

• Registering Claude MCP Connector

  • Method 1: Claude.ai Web/Mobile (Recommended)

  • Method 2: Claude Desktop App

  • Connection Verification and Testing

  • Troubleshooting

• API Key Setup

• Usage Examples

• Tech Stack

• Rate Limits

• Reference Projects

• License

• Contributing

• Contact

🎯 Quick Overview

An MCP server for unified searching of over 500 million academic papers worldwide in Claude.ai

• 🔍 4 APIs Integrated - OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef, arXiv

• 🛠 13 Tools - Search, details, citation tracking, author/institution info

• 🚀 5-minute Deployment - Fast response with Fly.io Tokyo region

• 📚 Comprehensive Documentation - 11 guide documents provided

• ✅ Most API Keys Not Required - OpenAlex, CrossRef, and arXiv are ready to use

Overview

This is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that allows you to search and analyze international academic papers in Claude.ai. It integrates 4 major academic APIs to provide comprehensive paper search capabilities.

Supported APIs

1. OpenAlex - 250 million+ papers across all fields

2. Semantic Scholar - 200 million+ papers specialized in AI/ML

3. CrossRef - 150 million+ metadata based on DOI

4. arXiv - 2.4 million+ physics/math/CS preprints

Key Features

OpenAlex Tools (4)

• openalex_search_papers - Search papers

• openalex_get_paper_detail - Get paper details

• openalex_get_author - Get author information

• openalex_search_institutions - Search institutions

Semantic Scholar Tools (4)

• semantic_search_papers - Search papers

• semantic_get_paper_detail - Get paper details

• semantic_get_citations - Get citing papers

• semantic_get_references - Get references

CrossRef Tools (3)

• crossref_search_works - Search papers

• crossref_get_work_by_doi - Get paper by DOI

• crossref_search_journals - Search journals

arXiv Tools (2)

• arxiv_search_papers - Search papers

• arxiv_get_paper_detail - Get paper details

Installation and Execution

Local Execution

# 1. 저장소 클론
git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/global-papers-mcp.git
cd global-papers-mcp

# 2. 의존성 설치
pip install -r requirements.txt

# 3. 환경 변수 설정 (선택)
cp .env.example .env
# .env 파일에서 SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY 설정 (선택사항)

# 4. 로컬 테스트 실행
python server.py

Fly.io Deployment

# 1. Fly.io CLI 설치
curl -L https://fly.io/install.sh | sh

# 2. Fly.io 로그인
flyctl auth login

# 3. 앱 생성 (도쿄 리전 사용으로 latency 최소화)
flyctl launch --no-deploy

# 4. 리전을 Tokyo(nrt)로 변경
flyctl regions set nrt

# 5. 배포
flyctl deploy

# 6. API 키 설정 (Semantic Scholar 사용 시)
flyctl secrets set SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

# 7. MCP URL 확인
flyctl info
# URL 예시: https://global-papers-mcp.fly.dev/mcp

Registering Claude MCP Connector

🌐 Method 1: Claude.ai Web/Mobile (Recommended)

The simplest and fastest way!

Step 1: Deploy MCP server and check URL

First, complete the deployment to Fly.io (refer to Fly.io Deployment above)

# 배포 후 MCP URL 확인
flyctl info

Output example:

Hostname = global-papers-mcp.fly.dev

MCP URL: https://global-papers-mcp.fly.dev/mcp (Must end with /mcp!)

Step 2: Access Claude.ai

Visit https://claude.ai in your web browser (or launch the mobile app)

Step 3: Open Settings menu

Web (Desktop):

• Click the profile icon (or your name) in the bottom left

• Select Settings

Mobile (iOS/Android):

• Tap the menu button (≡) in the top right

• Select Settings

Step 4: Navigate to Connectors menu

• Click the Connectors or Integrations menu

• Or select Features → Model Context Protocol

Step 5: Add new connector

Click the Add Connector or + Add button

Step 6: Enter MCP information

Enter the following information accurately:

⚠️ Important: Must include /mcp at the end of the URL!

Example:

• ✅ Correct URL: https://global-papers-mcp.fly.dev/mcp

• ❌ Incorrect URL: https://global-papers-mcp.fly.dev

Step 7: Save and connect

• Click the Connect or Save button

• Connection test runs automatically

• Confirm "Connected" or "Active" status

Step 8: Connection verification and testing

Check in Connectors list:

• Global Papers MCP appears in the list

• Status: 🟢 Connected

Actual usage test:

Start a new chat and enter the following command:

"OpenAlex에서 machine learning 관련 논문 5개 검색해줘"

Success if Claude returns paper search results! 🎉

💻 Method 2: Claude Desktop App

If using the Claude Desktop app on a local PC

💻 Method 2: Claude Desktop App

If using the Claude Desktop app on a local PC

Option A: Use Fly.io deployment URL (Recommended)

1. Find configuration file location

   Paths by OS:

   • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

   • Linux: ~/.config/claude/claude_desktop_config.json

2. Open configuration file

   Mac/Linux:

   # 파일이 없으면 생성
   mkdir -p ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/
   nano ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

   Windows:

   notepad %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

3. Add MCP server

   Enter the following or add to the existing file:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "global-papers": {
         "url": "https://global-papers-mcp.fly.dev/mcp"
       }
     }
   }

   If using multiple MCP servers:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "global-papers": {
         "url": "https://global-papers-mcp.fly.dev/mcp"
       },
       "kci-papers": {
         "url": "https://kci-mcp-korea.fly.dev/mcp"
       }
     }
   }

4. Save file and restart Claude Desktop

   • Save configuration file (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S)

   • Completely exit Claude Desktop app

   • Relaunch Claude Desktop

5. Verify connection

   After starting a new chat in Claude Desktop:

   "사용 가능한 도구를 보여줘"

   Success if Global Papers MCP tools are displayed!

Option B: Run local server

If running only locally without Fly.io

1. Prepare local server execution

   cd /path/to/global-papers-mcp
   pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Modify configuration file

   claude_desktop_config.json:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "global-papers": {
         "command": "python",
         "args": ["/absolute/path/to/global-papers-mcp/server.py"]
       }
     }
   }

   ⚠️ Caution:

   • Path must be an absolute path

   • Windows: C:\\Users\\YourName\\global-papers-mcp\\server.py

   • Mac/Linux: /Users/YourName/global-papers-mcp/server.py

3. Restart Claude Desktop

   Restart app after saving configuration file

4. Automatic server execution

   The local server starts automatically when Claude Desktop is launched.

🔍 Connection Verification and Testing

Check connection status

Claude.ai (Web/Mobile):

1. Settings → Connectors

2. Check Global Papers status

   • 🟢 Connected = Normal

   • 🔴 Disconnected = Error

Claude Desktop:

1. Start a new chat

2. Enter the following command:

   "연결된 MCP 서버를 보여줘"

Feature testing

Basic search:

"OpenAlex에서 transformer architecture 관련 논문 5개 검색해줘"

DOI lookup:

"CrossRef에서 이 DOI의 논문을 조회해줘: 10.1038/s41586-021-03819-2"

arXiv search:

"arXiv에서 cs.AI 카테고리의 최신 논문 10개 보여줘"

Citation relationship tracking:

"Semantic Scholar에서 'Attention is All You Need' 논문을 검색하고, 이 논문을 인용한 주요 논문들을 찾아줘"

⚠️ Troubleshooting

"Connection failed" error

Cause 1: URL error

• Missing /mcp endpoint

• Solution: Add /mcp to the end of the URL

Cause 2: Server not running

# Fly.io 서버 상태 확인
flyctl status

# 서버가 중지되어 있으면
flyctl apps restart

Cause 3: Firewall blocking

• Fly.io might be blocked on corporate/school networks

• Solution: Try a different network or contact IT department

Tools not displayed

Claude.ai:

1. Refresh browser

2. Log out and log back in

3. Try a different browser

Claude Desktop:

1. Check configuration file path

2. Check for JSON syntax errors (validate at JSONLint)

3. Completely exit app and restart

Slow response speed

Cause: Region issue

# 현재 리전 확인
flyctl regions list

# Tokyo(nrt) 리전으로 변경
flyctl regions set nrt
flyctl deploy

📚 Additional Help

• Detailed Guide: DEPLOYMENT.md

• Troubleshooting: TROUBLESHOOTING.md

• Usage Examples: EXAMPLES.md

• FAQ: FAQ.md

---## API Key Setup

Most APIs can be used without a key, but Semantic Scholar rate limits are relaxed when using an API key.

Semantic Scholar API Key Issuance

1. Visit https://www.semanticscholar.org/product/api

2. Click "Get API Key" to issue a free key

3. Set in .env file or environment variables

Usage Examples

Use in Claude.ai as follows:

"transformer 아키텍처 관련 최신 논문을 OpenAlex에서 검색해줘"

"이 DOI의 논문을 CrossRef에서 조회해줘: 10.1038/nature12345"

"arXiv에서 quantum computing 관련 최신 프리프린트 찾아줘"

"Semantic Scholar에서 이 논문을 인용한 논문들을 찾아줘"

Tech Stack

• FastMCP - MCP server framework

• httpx - Asynchronous HTTP client

• Python 3.9+

• Fly.io - Deployment platform (Tokyo region)

Rate Limits

• OpenAlex: 100,000 requests/day (No API key required)

• Semantic Scholar: 100 requests/5 minutes without API key, relaxed when using API key

• CrossRef: Faster response when using polite pool

• arXiv: 1 request/3 seconds recommended

Reference Projects

• kci-mcp-korea - Korea Citation Index (KCI) MCP server

License

MIT License

Contributing

Issues and PRs are welcome!

Contact

• GitHub Issues: https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/global-papers-mcp/issues