Two billion kroner, 18 institutions and ten years of research on the world’s northernmost sea.
Join the kick-off for the research programme Polhavet 2050 at Arctic Frontiers.

The research vessel Kronprins Haakon in the ice during the Arctic Ocean expedition 2022. The vessel will be central to the research of Polhavet 2050. Photo: Trine Lise Sviggum Helgerud, Norwegian Polar Institute

By 2050, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free during summer. This opens up new shipping routes and resource exploitation, but also unknown consequences for climate and ecology, possible major changes in fish stocks, and great power rivalry of unknown extent.

At Arctic Frontiers, we start the research collaboration that will find the answers we need for good governance of the northern areas and a safe geopolitical future. Over the next ten years, 18 Norwegian institutions will research, observe and analyse the future Arctic Ocean across a broad scientific spectrum.

We invite you to the kickoff for Polhavet 2050 to mark the launch of Norway’s largest research programme ever. The coming ten years will be incredibly important for our shared future in the Arctic.

When: Thursday, 5 February 2026, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
Where: Arctic Frontiers, Margarinfabrikken at The Edge Hotel, Tromsø

You can also follow the event on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMsSE-6aXug

We are political scientists, oceanographers, economists, biologists, geophysicists, lawyers, climate researchers, technologists, social scientists, seismologists, mathematicians, engineers, humanists and physicists – practically all kinds of scientists. In addition, there will be infrastructure on land, water, and in the air, plus a highly necessary support team.

The 18 institutions will together contribute one billion kroner of their own resources, as well as one billion kroner from the Research Council of Norway. Furthermore, numerous international research environments, institutions and research funders from around the world have shown great interest in the research programme.