Elsevier-MCP

Elsevier MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for Elsevier's Scopus APIs, enabling direct academic paper search, analysis, and researcher information retrieval through Cursor IDE's AI Composer.

🌐 Repository: https://github.com/yasufumi-nakata/Elsevier_MCP 📖 日本語版README: README_ja.md

📚 Overview

This project provides access to Elsevier's academic database services via MCP (Model Context Protocol). MCP is a standardized protocol for connecting AI applications with external data sources, often referred to as "USB-C for AI."

🔗 Available Elsevier API Services

• Scopus API: World's largest citation and abstract database (78 million records, 16 million author profiles)
• Abstract Retrieval API: Detailed paper abstracts and metadata retrieval
• SciVal API: Research performance analysis and author metrics

⚠️ Important API & AI Usage Terms

Critical: Please read Elsevier's policies carefully before use:

• 📋 API Terms: All usage must comply with Elsevier API Service Agreement
• 🤖 AI Usage Policy: Data obtained via this tool should follow Elsevier's AI Guidelines
• 📊 Text & Data Mining: Academic text mining must comply with TDM Policy
• 🚫 Prohibited Uses:
  • Training AI models without explicit permission
  • Large-scale data scraping beyond research purposes
  • Commercial redistribution of obtained data
• 🔒 Data Retention: Retrieved data should not be stored permanently without proper licensing

For detailed terms, visit the Elsevier Developer Portal.

✨ Key Features

🔍 Paper Search

• Search papers by keywords, author names, and fields
• Year-specific search capabilities
• Retrieve up to 25 search results

👨‍🔬 Researcher Analysis

• Detailed author profile information
• ORCID ID-based researcher search
• Citation counts, H-Index, and research activity metrics

📊 Research Trend Analysis

• Field-specific year-over-year analysis
• Institution-based paper statistics
• Open access paper search

📄 Detailed Paper Information

• Abstract and metadata retrieval
• DOI and EID-based detailed search

🚀 Quick Start

Step 1: Verify Required Environment

You need the following environment:

• 🐍 Python 3.10 or higher (Python 3.10+ recommended)
• 💻 Cursor IDE (Please use the latest version)
• 🔑 Elsevier API Key (Available from Elsevier Developer Portal)

Step 2: Download Project

# Clone project from GitHub
git clone https://github.com/yasufumi-nakata/Elsevier_MCP.git
cd Elsevier_MCP

# Install required Python libraries
pip install -e .

Step 3: Obtain Elsevier API Key

3-1. Create Account on Elsevier Developer Portal

1. Visit Elsevier Developer Portal
2. Click "I want an API Key"
3. Fill in account information and create account

3-2. Generate API Key

1. After login, select "My API Key"
2. Create a new API key
3. Follow Elsevier's current terms and policies

3-3. Set Environment Variable

Windows (Command Prompt):

set ELSEVIER_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Windows (PowerShell):

$env:ELSEVIER_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"

macOS/Linux:

export ELSEVIER_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"

Step 4: Configure MCP in Cursor IDE

4-1. Open Cursor Settings

1. Launch Cursor IDE
2. Open settings with ⌘ + , (Mac) or Ctrl + , (Windows/Linux)
3. Select "MCP" from the left menu

4-2. Add MCP Server

1. Click "Add new global MCP server" button
2. Add the following JSON configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elsevier-research": {
      "comment": "🔬 Elsevier Academic Paper Search MCP",
      "command": "elsevier-mcp-server",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "ELSEVIER_API_KEY": "insert_your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Important:

• Install the package in the same Python environment that Cursor can access
• Replace insert_your_api_key_here with your obtained API key

4-3. Save and Verify Settings

1. Save the configuration file (⌘ + S or Ctrl + S)
2. Green indicator in MCP server list indicates success
3. If errors appear, double-check the package installation and API key

📖 Usage Guide

Step 1: Open Cursor AI Composer

1. Start a new chat in Cursor IDE
2. Click the "Composer" icon in the upper right, or press ⌘ + I (Mac) / Ctrl + I (Windows)
3. Make sure "Agent" mode is selected (required to use MCP tools)

Step 2: Try Paper Search

Input questions like the following:

🔍 Basic Paper Search

"Search for 5 papers on machine learning"

📊 Research Trend Analysis

"Analyze research trends in AI and machine learning fields for 2023"

👨‍🔬 Researcher Information Retrieval

"Tell me about the researcher with ORCID: 0000-0003-1419-2405"

🏛️ Institution-based Research Status

"Research the number of papers and major research fields at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in 2023"

🔓 Open Access Paper Search

"Search for 3 open access papers on quantum computing"

Step 3: Tool Approval and Execution

1. When AI displays "Tool Approval Required", click "Use Tool"
2. Wait a few seconds for results to display
3. For more detailed information, you can continue asking additional questions

💡 Usage Tips

• Use specific keywords for more accurate results
• Specify years to understand latest research trends
• Specify number of papers to adjust the amount of information needed

🛠️ Available Tools

Tool Name	Description	Parameters
search_papers	Paper search	query, count, year
get_paper_abstract	Paper abstract retrieval	eid or doi
get_author_info	Author information	author_id
analyze_research_trends	Research trend analysis	field, years
get_institution_papers	Institution paper statistics	institution, year
search_open_access_papers	Open access paper search	field, count

🧪 Testing

# Package and metadata checks
python -m compileall -q elsevier_mcp_complete.py examples test.py
python -m build
python -m twine check dist/*

# Live API tests (requires ELSEVIER_API_KEY)
python test.py

# Direct handler examples
python examples/basic_usage.py

🔧 Troubleshooting

🚨 Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: "MCP Server Won't Start"

Symptoms: Red indicator appears for MCP server in Cursor settings

Solutions:

1. Check the console command is installed:

   elsevier-mcp-server --version
   

2. Reinstall required libraries:

   pip install -e .
   

Issue 2: "API Key Error Occurs"

Symptoms: 401 Unauthorized error, "Invalid API Key", or "ELSEVIER_API_KEY environment variable is not set"

Solutions:

1. If a tool returns "environment variable is not set": The MCP server can start without an API key, but API-backed tools need it
   • Set your API key: export ELSEVIER_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"
   • Restart the MCP server in Cursor
2. Check API key format: Confirm it's 32 alphanumeric characters
3. Reset environment variable:

   # Check current setting
   echo $ELSEVIER_API_KEY
   
   # Reset
   export ELSEVIER_API_KEY="your_actual_api_key"
   

4. Reload Cursor settings: Save settings and restart Cursor

Issue 3: "No Search Results Displayed"

Symptoms: "No papers found" message appears

Solutions:

1. Change keywords: Try more general terms (e.g., "AI" → "artificial intelligence")
2. Remove year restrictions: Delete specific year specifications
3. Try open access search: Search only freely accessible papers

Issue 4: "Tools Not Used in Cursor Agent Mode"

Symptoms: Only regular responses returned, MCP tools not used

Solutions:

1. Check Agent mode: Confirm chat setting is "Agent"
2. Explicitly request tool use:

   "Use the search_papers tool to search for machine learning papers"
   

3. Enable Auto-run: Enable automatic tool execution in Cursor settings

Issue 5: "Usage Limit Reached"

Symptoms: Rate limit exceeded error

Solutions:

• Usage limits: Check current API limits in your Elsevier Developer Portal
• Limit reset: Limits reset every Monday
• Higher limits: Contact Elsevier for expanded access if needed

📞 When You Need Support

1. GitHub Issues: Report Issues
2. Elsevier API Support: apisupport@elsevier.com
3. Cursor Support: Cursor Help Center

✅ Operation Verification Checklist

To confirm settings are working correctly:

• Python 3.10+ is installed
• Required libraries are installed
• Elsevier API key is valid
• Server shows green in Cursor MCP settings
• Agent mode is selected
• File path is correctly set

📦 Dependencies

• requests: HTTP API client
• python-dotenv: Environment variable management

See requirements.txt for complete details.

📄 License

This project is released under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

🤝 Contributing

Pull requests and issue reports are welcome!

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

🔗 Related Links

📚 Official Documentation

• Elsevier Developer Portal - API key acquisition and specifications
• Scopus API Documentation - Detailed Scopus API specifications
• Model Context Protocol (MCP) - Official MCP protocol site
• Cursor MCP Documentation - MCP setup guide for Cursor

🛠️ Development Tools

• Cursor IDE - AI-integrated development environment
• MCP Directory - Directory of 1800+ MCP servers
• GitHub - MCP Servers - Official MCP server collection

🎓 Learning Resources

• MCP Tutorial Series - MCP learning articles
• Elsevier API Examples - API usage examples

📞 Support & Contact

🐛 Issue Reporting

• GitHub Issues: Report Issues
• Feature Request: Request New Features

💬 Questions & Discussions

• GitHub Discussions: Join Discussions
• Elsevier API Support: apisupport@elsevier.com

📝 Feedback

Help us improve the project:

• Usage experience reports
• Feature suggestions
• Documentation improvements

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⚖️ Terms & Disclaimer

📋 Usage Terms

• This project is developed for educational and research purposes
• Users must comply with all Elsevier API terms and AI usage policies
• Your responsibility: Ensure your use complies with institutional and legal requirements
• Data handling: You are responsible for appropriate data management and retention policies

🛡️ Important Disclaimers

• API Compliance: Users must independently verify compliance with Elsevier's current terms
• AI & Ethics: Use of retrieved data for AI training requires explicit permission from Elsevier
• Legal Responsibility: The author assumes no liability for policy violations or misuse
• Data Accuracy: Information accuracy is subject to Elsevier's data quality and policies
• Commercial Use: Any commercial application requires separate licensing from Elsevier

🚨 User Responsibilities

• Read Terms: Always review current Elsevier policies before use
• Respect Limits: Adhere to API rate limits and usage restrictions
• Proper Attribution: Cite sources appropriately when using retrieved data
• Institutional Compliance: Ensure compliance with your institution's data policies

📜 License

This project is released under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

🤝 Contributions Welcome

Pull requests and issues are welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

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🔬 Elsevier MCP Server - Academic Research Made Easier with AI 📝 Last Updated: May 21, 2026 🌟 GitHub: https://github.com/yasufumi-nakata/Elsevier_MCP