As President of UArctic, the leading network of cooperation in circumpolar higher education and research, Lars Kullerud "welcomes this partnership as a means to bring the expertise and experience of both parties together to broaden international engagement on Arctic issues in the Russian Federation." UArctic already has a strong track record of cooperation with events such as the the International Arctic Forum. With this agreement the two organizations increase the opportunities for the peoples of the North, students, and researchers to work with business and governments to secure prosperous and sustainable development in the Arctic.
Roscongress Foundation Chairman of the Board and CEO Alexander Stuglev and University of the Arctic President Lars Kullerud on 9 April signed a cooperation agreement to establish effective communication between expert, business, and political communities in the Arctic region and the Russian Federation as part of the scientific and educational spaces of the Arctic regions.
"We are interested in developing common communication platforms at the international level in order to generate interstate cooperation in various areas. One of our key objectives is to help strengthen existing partnerships as well as to find and develop new long-term partnerships between representatives of the business communities of the Arctic region," Stuglev said.
"The development strategy of Russia’s Arctic zone designates international relations as one of the priorities for the development of the Arctic territory. The Arctic is a space for international dialogue and cooperation, and its scientific development should take place in close cooperation with foreign partners," said Marina Kalinina, UArctic Vice President Interregional Cooperation and advisor to the rector of Northern (Arctic) Federal University for international cooperation. "Russia is one of the active members of the Consortium. Our country is represented by 53 members."