Research financing on the agenda in Tromsø

UArctic (University of the Arctic) is a network university consisting of 121 participating research and educational establishments in the Nordic countries. The Arctic Frontiers conference coincided with the gathering of representatives from the Nordic financing institutions, assembled to learn about the financing possibilities Nordic collaboration can offer.

During the workshop, the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Senior Adviser Fredrik Melander presented the research policy and financial structure, while Simone Heinz from NordForsk presented NordForsk and the Top-level Research Initiative. Saga Wendén from the Nordic Council of Ministers introduced NordPlus, Nordic Masters and The Arctic Co-operation Programme. The links to these websites provide an overview of open calls presented during the work shop.

Allocation criteria

Moderator and President of the UArctic, Lars Kullerud, guided the audience through a busy programme of debates and constructive contributions. For the many smaller member institutions of the UArctic, the competitive financing situation is a recurring subject. As the altered geopolitical situation has rendered the northern areas more interesting, attention from research institutions outside of the Nordic region has increased. Many participants expressed a wish for increased financing opportunities to ensure that research on the Nordic region is “done in the North, by people in the North, for people in the North”.

Melander stressed that the Nordic resources are minor compared to the national ones, and that they will promote areas in which the Nordic countries already hold strong research competencies.

Many expressed their opinion that the allocation criteria are adjusted to fit larger research institutions. Melander reiterated that the Nordic Council of Ministers emphasizes quality and relevance. In the Top-level Research Initiative, these two criteria play a central role in the allocation of funds. A total of ten projects have recently received funding within the sub-programme  “Effect studies and adaptation to climate change”.

Simone Heinz was very pleased with both the workshop and the Arctic Frontiers conference: - Our stand was well attended, and we had the opportunity to inform the public of the Top-level Research Initiative and our grant schemes.

Text: Pål Mugaas, Millimeterpress

Photo: Fredrik Melander, by Terje Heiestad, Millimeterpress 

Facts

Arctic Frontiers was established in 2006 as a leading, independent meeting point for researchers, industry and politicians. The goal is to spread knowledge on arctic issues and contribute to a viable management of the Nordic resources. The University of Tromsø, the Research Council of Norway, the Institute of Marine Research, ConocoPhilips, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the county of Tromsø are among the participants. This year’s conference gathered about 750 participants.