Umeå to become new hub for European polar research

Umeå The European Polar Board (EPB) and the future European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) will be located in Umeå, Sweden, from 2025 to 2029.

The move from the Netherlands to the Arctic strengthens the foundation for Sweden's Arctic research coordination and regional policy development, Umeå University writes in a press release.

It will be hosted by the Arctic Centre at Umeå University, in collaboration with the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Luleå University of Technology, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and the Arctic Five.

EPB's decision to relocate its operations to Sweden is the result of a hosting bid developed through a collaboration between the Arctic Centre at Umeå University, the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Luleå University of Technology, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and the Universities of Tromsø, Rovaniemi and Oulu.

"We are pleased to welcome EPB and EPCO to northern Sweden. The move highlights Sweden's contribution to polar research and is in line with EPB and EPCO's commitment to work closely with Arctic communities. We look forward to the collaborative opportunities this will bring to enhance research and policy activities for the polar regions," says Katarina Gårdfeldt, Director General of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com