News for Polar Researchers in Sweden

News for Polar Researchers in Sweden

Polar Researchers in Sweden is a public list to gather researchers in Sweden that are engaged with science in and about the polar regions and other related research. You are receiving this newsletter as a member of the list. This is what’s new!

Swedish Polar Research Secretariat plans to take over Kristineberg

Kristineberg Marine Research Station. Photo: Marko T Wramén / Kristineberg Center

The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and the University of Gothenburg have signed a joint declaration of intent regarding the transfer of the Kristineberg Marine Research Station to the Secretariat’s operations.

The declaration means that the two authorities will jointly begin preparations for an operational transfer, with implementation planned for 1 January 2026 – subject to the necessary political decisions. The transfer would integrate the station’s unique resources and expertise into the Secretariat’s infrastructure. A formal decision is expected from the government and parliament in autumn 2025.

NATIONAL MEETINGS

Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic
10-11 November, Stockholm

Welcome to the second Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic. The forum aims to shape agendas for Arctic and Antarctic research in Sweden through dialogue between academia, government agencies, and other stakeholders. The overarching theme is Raising the ambition of Swedish Polar Research. The program will include highlights of ongoing and emerging Arctic and Antarctic research, and panels in which researchers, authorities and actors from civil society discuss future needs and avenues for polar research in Sweden.

Organised by: Stockholm University, Luleå University of Technology, Arctic Centre at Umeå University and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

Polar Day at Linnaeus University
26 November, Kalmar

Linnéuniversitetet i Kalmar

Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025

Location: Lapis, Linnaeus University, Kalmar

Time: 09:00–16:00 (registration opens at 08:30)

Language: English

Icebreaker event 25/11: a welcome reception will be held from 19:00 to 21:00 at the Kalmar Maritime Academy the evening before the event.

Organisers: Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and Linnaeus University

The program includes:

Polar research at Linnaeus University
Current initiatives in Swedish polar research
Swedish Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic

Registration and a more detailed agenda will be available in August.

Polar Early Career Conference
22-23 September, Umeå

Welcome to APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist) Sweden Conference 2025, where we focus on the future of Arctic Sustainability Research. This is where early career researchers from all disciplines come together to discuss challenges and opportunities of Arctic research in relation to sustainability and indigenous perspectives.

CALLS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Polar research becomes a strategic research area – call opens 3 September

North Greenland. Photo: Martin Jakobsson.

The Swedish government has decided to designate polar research as one of eight new Strategic Research Areas, with the goal of strengthening Sweden’s long-term position as a leading polar research nation.

The Swedish Research Council is responsible for the call, which targets Swedish universities. A total of SEK 66.5 million has been allocated to polar research for the years 2027 and 2028. Of this, SEK 22 million is allocated for 2027, and SEK 44.5 million is planned for 2028. The application period runs from 3 September to 4 November 2025.

The Swedish Research Council will host a digital information meeting about the Strategic Research Areas call on 5 September, from 13:00 to 14:00.

Doctoral programme grant within polar research

The purpose of the grant is to increase competence in polar research, and to improve national and international collaboration by contributing to third cycle higher education activities. Graduate schools contribute to and strengthen the future supply of competent researchers in the field. The effort is based on a task by the Government to ensure the growth of excellent researchers and further strengthen Sweden’s international impact within polar research.

Grant period: 4 years
Maximum funding: SEK 10 million per year
Start date: January 2026
Application period: 27 August – 30 September 2025
Decision: by early December 2025

The Polar Initiative: call for projects between scientific research and policy

This year’s call prioritizes projects that reinforce the connection between scientific research and policy, ensuring that reliable knowledge and data effectively inform decisions to shape a resilient future for the Arctic and Antarctic as they evolve in response to global and local changes.

The Polar Initiative was launched in 2022 through a collaboration between the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the Oceanographic Institute - Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation.

Short deadline - 30 June

IRISCC: transnational infrastructure access

IRISCC (Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change Risks) has a call open for transnational and virtual access to key research infrastructures.

Short deadline - 30 June

Open call to secure Europe’s leadership in polar research

The European Polar Board urges EU decision-makers to secure long-term funding for polar research in the upcoming Framework Programme FP10, to maintain Europe's leadership in the field.

Over 800 researchers and experts have already signed the open call, highlighting the need for targeted investments to address global challenges in the polar regions.

Ramping up to IPY 5

The planning for the next International Polar Year (2032-33) is taking shape. So far 30 international polar organizations are part of the planning group, and several task groups are and will be set up to which individuals can apply to join.

More information and updates

Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2026 in Denmark - first circular

The entire Arctic community is encouraged to use ASSW 2026 as a venue for bringing together their organisations, collaborations, and teams. ASSW 2026 organisers will provide the logistical support, and your meeting attendees only have to register for ASSW 2026 and show up. Meeting proposal can be submitted until 30 September 2025.
ASSW is a yearly conference, and Sweden will be hosting it 2029.

Read the ASSW 2026 First Circular

Help identify Arctic datasets at risk

SAON (Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks) is collecting information on Arctic datasets that are at risk of becoming inaccessible due to lack of funding, infrastructure, or institutional support. Researchers are invited to contribute by submitting data at risk through a short form. All inputs are valuable.

Submit a dataset at risk to SAON

IASC Activities and Cross-Cutting Activities Allocation 2025/2026

The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) has published its funding allocations for 2025–2026, supporting scientific activities across all working groups and cross-cutting initiatives. Swedish researchers are encouraged to engage in upcoming calls and collaborations.

See the IASC 2025–2026 activity allocations

FROM THE NEWS AND POLAR EVENTS

Sweden’s new digital strategy highlights Arctic subsea cables

In Sweden’s Digitalisation Strategy 2025–2030, presented at the end of May, a fibre-optic connection through the Arctic is highlighted as important for Sweden’s connectivity. The EU-funded project Polar Connect, in which the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat are among the participants, aims, among other things, to provide research with access to unique sensors and data from the Arctic Ocean via such a cable.

Sweden’s digitalisation strategy (2025–2030)

The Polar Connect initiative

Hydrological measurements in Abisko receive international recognition

For over a hundred years, the Abisko Scientific Research Station (ANS) of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat has collaborated with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) to collect hydrological data in the Abisko area. This long-standing effort received international recognition in June 2024, when the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) awarded ANS and SMHI the prestigious Centennial Award for over a century of continuous, high-quality measurements.

Expedition with Oden 2025

This summer icebreaker Oden will carry out an expedition with the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent to map the seabed in the Arctic Ocean, which is taking place within the framework of the UNCLOS program (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). In symbiosis with this, an extensive Early Career Scientist program takes place on board, consisting of the course The Arctic Ocean Climate System.

Workshops and other activities supported by IASC

The International Arctic Scientific Committee (IASC) funds community activities such as workshops often with a cross-disciplinary theme. The activities for 2025 and 2026 are now published.

Visit the exhibition Expedition Art in Halmstad

Date: Tuesday 24 June – Sunday 2 November 2025
Place: Hallands Konstmuseum

Expedition Art is a group exhibition featuring works by 13 Swedish artists who have all participated in the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat’s art programme. Through the programme, artists join the Secretariat’s polar expeditions and explore the connection between art and science.

Participating artists include Lars Lerin, Svenerik Jakobsson, Josef Bull, Dascha Esselius, Linda Karlsson, Hanna Ljungh, Johan Petterson, Sigrid Sandström, Ida Rödén, the artist duo Bigert & Bergström, choreographer Efva Lilja, and film producer Bo Landin.