2026 UArctic Project Call Results for Networking Activities on UArctic Research and Education

Funding from the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science's (DAHES) 2026 UArctic Grant for the Kingdom of Denmark will support five new UArctic network projects addressing education, public engagement, entrepreneurship, geophysics, and health across the Arctic. Together, the projects reflect the breadth of Arctic knowledge production and collaboration, bringing together researchers, students, communities, and institutions from across the circumpolar North.

The projects build on UArctic's commitment to strengthening circumpolar cooperation in research, education, and knowledge sharing.

As national agency for UArctic in the Kingdom of Denmark, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, administers the grant.

"The projects demonstrate the diversity and strength of Arctic collaboration across the Kingdom of Denmark and the wider circumpolar region. Together, they will contribute new knowledge, strengthen educational opportunities, and support capacity building within Arctic institutions and communities, while creating lasting connections between researchers, students, and communities," says Mari Kleist, rector of Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland.

The five projects are now preparing their activities and will contribute to strengthening Arctic research, education, and societal engagement throughout the coming years

The projects run from 1st September 2026 and one or two years ahead.

Co-creation of interdisciplinary permafrost higher education with a community in Kalaallit Nunaat (EduPermaKAL)

Institutions: Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Aarhus University, Aalborg University, Umeå University, University of Oslo and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

EduPermaKAL will develop an interdisciplinary higher-education course focused on permafrost challenges in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. By combining engineering, geoscience, and social science perspectives, the project will enable students to work directly with local stakeholders on real-world challenges related to infrastructure, tourism, climate change, and community resilience. The initiative builds on existing UArctic collaboration in

permafrost research and education and aims to establish a long-term model for Arctic, community-based learning.

Entrepreneurship and moral economy in the Arctic in the era of polycrisis (POLAR)

Institutions: University of Southern Denmark, University of Oulu, University of Tromsø, Chr. Michelsen Institute, and University of the Faroe Islands

This project explores how Arctic entrepreneurs and small businesses navigate the challenges and opportunities created by climate change, geopolitical tensions, demographic shifts, and the green transition. Working through the UArctic Thematic Network on Managing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the North, the project will organize peer-learning activities, seminars, and educational initiatives while developing new research on legitimacy, leadership, and responsible entrepreneurship in Arctic communities.

Nuummi Sikup Aqqutaa (Nuuk Ice Path)

Institutions: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Aarhus University, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Greenland National Museum, and Archives and Proces

Nuummi Sikup Aqqutaa will transform scientific knowledge about climate change, ice-sheet retreat, and human settlement history into an interactive public experience in Nuuk. Through a self-guided nature path, multilingual digital platform, and public outreach activities, the project will connect residents, schools, visitors, and educators with 100,000 years of environmental and cultural history in the Nuuk Fjord region. The project seeks to strengthen science literacy, cultural awareness, and engagement with Arctic environmental change.

Interdisciplinary Field PhD Course in Arctic Geophysics

Institutions: Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Aarhus University, University of Oslo, Umeå University, and Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy

The project will establish a new interdisciplinary PhD-level field course in Arctic geophysics, addressing the growing need for researchers who can work across scientific disciplines. Participants will take part in preparatory workshops and field activities in Greenland, integrating geophysical methods into their own research questions. By combining education, field-based learning, and scientific collaboration, the project aims to create new research networks and support innovative Arctic science.

Building Capacity and Visibility in Circumpolar Health: Training, Engagement, and Forward-Looking Dialogue

Institutions: Ilisimatusarfik, Centre for Public Health in Greenland, University of Southern Denmark, University of Oulu, Umeå University, Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Montana State University, McMaster University, and International Union for Circumpolar Health & American Society for Circumpolar Health

Building on previous UArctic-funded collaboration in Arctic health, this project will strengthen the UArctic Thematic Network on Health and Well-being in the Arctic through advanced training, strategic engagement, and international dialogue. Activities include a PhD-level course connected to the International Congress on Circumpolar Health, participation in major Arctic conferences, and a webinar focusing on future circumpolar health priorities in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals and the upcoming International Polar Year. The project places particular emphasis on Indigenous knowledge, early-career researchers, and community-engaged approaches to health research.