Our Supporters

UArctic's operations are financed in many different ways, ranging from governmental to philanthropic support. Below is an overview of our main supporters who enable us to carry out key activities and succeed in our mission.

National funding

Stable long-term funding from governments is a central part of UArctic’s funding. National support varies from country to country, but it is typically targeted towards their own institutions’ engagement in UArctic Thematic Networks, UArctic-related projects, and mobility. Most national funding also supports coordination of activities and programs that benefit the network more broadly.

Global Affairs Canada provides funding to support Indigenous and Northern leadership and engagement in collaborative research and education initiatives. It also supports mobility for students and faculty of Canada’s northern regions, as well as internships for graduates and young professionals with northern business and industry. In addition, individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

The Finnish National Agency for Education, as part of the Ministry of Education and Culture, provides funding for student mobility under the north2north program. UArctic also receives funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

Individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education funds projects run by Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic institutions, and provides north2north mobility funding for students and staff. The funding also includes annual internship placements at the UArctic International Secretariat and the UArctic Thematic Networks and Research Liaison Office. In addition, the Danish funding helps support UArctic’s day-to-day operations. In addition, individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

The Ministry of Education and Research funds north2north scholarships for students and staff, and funding for project activities run by Norwegian institutions. The ministry also funds the position of the UArctic President and contribute to the north2north International Coordination Office. In addition, individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

The UArctic membership of 55 Russian institutions and organizations is currently paused.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fund north2north scholarships for students and staff. In addition, individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

Individual member institutions fund their own participation in various UArctic activities, including hosting UArctic leadership functions.

Office and staff hosting

UArctic’s core operations and distributed leadership are organized through cooperation agreements between UArctic and individual member institutions. These institutions host the network’s central functions and positions, benefiting UArctic as an association and supporting our purpose.

GRID-Arendal

  • UArctic President

University of Lapland

  • UArctic International Secretariat
  • UArctic Secretary General

University of Oulu

  • UArctic Thematic Networks and Research Liaison Office
  • UArctic Vice-President Research
  • UArctic Vice-President Networks

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

  • UArctic north2north International Coordination Office
  • UArctic Vice-President Mobility

Memorial University of Newfoundland

  • UArctic Vice-President Northern Community Engagement

Nunavut Arctic College

  • UArctic Vice-President Indigenous

University of Alaska Anchorage

  • UArctic Vice-President Academic

University of Iceland

  • UArctic Philanthropy Manager

Harbin Institute of Technology

  • UArctic-HIT Training Centre / UArctic regional centre in China

University of Aberdeen

  • Scottish Arctic Network (ScAN) / UArctic regional centre in Scotland

Project funding

Over the years, UArctic has received support from many national and international funding bodies for targeted project activities. The projects are run by the applying member institution, usually with several other members as partners, and they are often linked to a UArctic Thematic Network.

Heal Fund (UArctic Founders' Fund)

The Heal Fund honours the memory of Bill Heal, the person behind the original idea of UArctic. Established with the generous donations from his family and other Founders of UArctic, the Founders' Fund supports such critical areas as fostering collaboration across borders and supporting the careers of early-career researchers.

Family of Bill and Elsie Heal

Riitta Aikio 

Asgeir Brekke 

Leif Christoffersen 

Johan Daniel Hætta 

Janne Hukkinen 

Paula Kankaanpää

Leslie King

Lars Kullerud

Richard Langlais 

Lauri Lantto

Guy Lindström 

Audrey McLaughlin

Paul Reichardt

Lars-Otto Reiersen

Larissa Riabova 

Esko Riepula

Rune Rydén 

Scandinavian Seminar / In honour of Erling Olsen, Olav Hesjedal, Rune Rydén, Leif Christoffersen

Outi Snellman 

Stefansson Arctic Institute

David Stone 

Knut Vollebaek

Sally Webber

5 supporters wishing to stay anonymous

Major philanthropic supporters

Some individuals and organizations have a relationship with UArctic that extends beyond membership or usual engagement. Their ambitions align with UArctic’s mission, and over the years they have provided consistent financial support towards our work.

  • Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
  • Frederik Paulsen
  • Scandinavian Seminar