The conference was attended by regional and federal authorities, educational and research institutions, business companies. The Plenary session was opened by Alexander Klimov, Deputy-Minister of Education of the Russian Federation. 

One of presentations made during the Plenary session was devoted to UArctic and its cooperation within the international network. The UArtic experience presented by Marina Kalinina, VP Interregional Cooperation, can be used as a model for development of national Consortium created in the frames of this conference. The Plenary was followed by two sessions on research and education on the base of Russian instututions. 

The document on the Consortium creation was signed at the Plenary session by representatives of Russian UArctic members: Northern (Arctic) Federal University, Northern State Medical University, Murmansk State Technical University, Syktyvkar State University, Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, North-Eastern Federal University, Petrozavodsk State University, Tomsk State University, Murmansk Arctic State University and other organizations participating in the conference.

The Consortium aims to unite resources, efforts and opportunities for creation of joint universities, research and business’ infrastructure in the Russian Arctic.

The main objective of the Consortium is to ensure sustainable development of the Russian Arctic territories. The Consortium work will include expertise of personnel needs (creation of Russian Arctic graduates database for businesses and educational programs database), popularization of  knowledge on the Arctic issues, Arctic specialties, Arctic studies. As for the scientific activities, focus will be on creating an information base, organization of joint conferences, seminars and larger research projects such as joint expeditions.

You can watch a video about the conference here in Russian.