# scopus-mcp

An MCP server that plugs the Elsevier Scopus API into your assistant, so it can search papers, pull abstracts and look up authors.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 47
- Author: qwe4559999
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/qwe4559999/scopus-mcp
- Updated: 2026-05-17
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/scopus-mcp

## What it does

Three tools come with it. `search_scopus` runs a Scopus query such as `TITLE("Artificial Intelligence")` and takes a result count plus a sort order. `get_abstract_details` returns document details for a given `scopus_id`, and `get_author_profile` does the same for an `author_id`.

The server starts with `uvx scopus-mcp`, so `uv` has to be on the machine. No `uv`? Install manually with Python 3.10+ and `pip install .`. Your key goes into `SCOPUS_API_KEY`.

Getting that key is the real hurdle. Elsevier hands them out through its Developer Portal, and an institutional subscription is usually what makes an application go through. A public email domain can get rejected, so use a university or work address. In Cursor you add the server by hand: type `command` (stdio), command `uvx scopus-mcp`, with `SCOPUS_API_KEY` set among your system environment variables. Claude, Codex and Gemini CLI each have a one-line add command.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)
- Environment variables: `SCOPUS_API_KEY` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add scopus-mcp -e SCOPUS_API_KEY=<SCOPUS_API_KEY> -- uvx scopus-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from scopus-mcp <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add scopus-mcp --env SCOPUS_API_KEY=<SCOPUS_API_KEY> -- uvx scopus-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from scopus-mcp <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "scopus-mcp": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "scopus-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "SCOPUS_API_KEY": "<SCOPUS_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from scopus-mcp <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "scopus-mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "scopus-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "SCOPUS_API_KEY": "<SCOPUS_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from scopus-mcp <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e SCOPUS_API_KEY=<SCOPUS_API_KEY> scopus-mcp uvx scopus-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from scopus-mcp <command>

## When to use it
- search Scopus for papers on a topic without leaving the chat
- pull the abstract and metadata for a document by `scopus_id`
- check an author's profile from an `author_id`
- sort Scopus results by cover date
- gather a reading list from a Scopus query

## Example prompts
- Search Scopus for `TITLE("Artificial Intelligence")` and show me 10 results
- Get the abstract for document `scopus_id` 2-s2.0-85123456789
- Look up the author profile for `author_id` 7001234567

## Similar
- [Zotero MCP](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/zotero-mcp.md) — MCP server · ★ 5548
- [arxiv-mcp-server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/arxiv-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 3231
- [PaperBanana](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/paperbanana.md) — MCP server · ★ 2417
- [MATLAB MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/matlab-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 1716
- [Hex Research](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/hex-research.md) — MCP server · ★ 583
- [DocsAgent — Zotero, Obsidian & Apple Notes MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/docsagent-zotero-obsidian-apple-notes-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 578

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md