The Arctic Five becomes The Arctic Six

The Arctic Five alliance consists of five universities in Norway, Sweden, and Finland that collaborate to promote research and education aimed at Arctic conditions.

On 18 October, Nord University in Bodø, Norway was included in the alliance, leading to a name change from The Arctic Five to The Arctic Six. The new member was formally admitted during the Arctic Circle conference in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The alliance is continually taking new steps to find new solutions to societal challenges such as climate change and a tense geopolitical situation.

– I believe the decision the six universities made today is a very good response to the common challenges Scandinavian countries face in the northern regions, says Rector at Nord University, Hanne Solheim Hansen.

Completes each other

Solheim Hansen believes that the membership in the alliance will create better conditions for future collaboration.

– Now that we are an Arctic Six member, this will give more strength and encouragement to the existing bilateral cooperation we already have with other universities in the alliance. This will also provide a better framework for our researchers to work within, she says.

She points out that Nord University can add more capacity to the alliance in several disciplines.

– Nord University has strong capacity in areas such as aquaculture, marine research, entrepreneurship, business development, and Sami culture and language. This might help partner universites complete each other even more, if we add more capacity to research and education, concludes Solheim Hansen.

A stronger universal voice

UiT – The Arctic University of Norway will take over the leadership of The Arctic Six in March 2025. Rector Dag Rune Olsen believes it bodes well for future collaboration that all the universities in the Arctic region of the Nordic countries are now involved.

– It gives us the strength to act as an academic region in key issues such as climate and environment, green and sustainable business development, indigenous perspectives, and security and preparedness. Together, we are a stronger universal voice in our own countries, in the region, but also on the European stage and internationally. I warmly welcome Nord University into the "family," says Olsen.