Stakeholder-academia collaboration platform for sustainable development of Arctic (Платформа для организации сотрудничества  по содействию устойчивому развитию Арктики)

Russian State Hydrometeorological University was among the founders of the National Arctic Research and Education Consortium (NANOK), which Siberian Federal University later joined. Officially registered in November 2017, NANOK currently unites 33 universities, research organizations, industrial associations and NGOs. The consortium is focused on the creation of a common scientific and educational space that provides high-quality information and analytical support for the development projects of the Russian Arctic, including the coordination of scientific and educational activities.

The purpose of the Consortium is to consolidate resources in the field of personnel and scientific support for sustainable socio-economic development and development of the northern and Arctic territories of the Russian Federation.

As part of the activities of the National Arctic Research and Educational Consortium, the First All-Russian Competition of student research papers on the Arctic topics took place in late 2017 to stimulate students' research on the Arctic. The competition was held with the support of the companies Gazpromneft-Sakhalin LLC, Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill JSC, First Mining Company JSC. The competition was coordinated by the M.K. Ammosov Northeastern Federal University. Two RSHU students were among the prize winners.

RSHU and SFU participate in NANOK meetings, and contribute to implementation of the roadmap developed by the association. NANOK sessions were attended by SUNRAISE participants from RSHU and SFU during the VIII International Forum "Arctic: Today and the Future" (St Petersburg, 5-7 December 2018) and the International Arctic Forum 2019 “Territory of Dialogue” that took place in St Petersburg on 9–10 April 2019.

As part of the NANOK networking, SUNRAISE participants are also taking part in the Arctic Floating University 2019 expedition to Swalbard, having the task to collect visual materials and photos for the Arctic MOOC SUNRAISE consortium is developing.

While NANOK is becoming a powerful network in Arctic research and education, RSHU is also considers bilateral agreements with some Arctic actors to implement targeted and time-bound activities, or strengthen cooperation that already exists. One of them was signed on 21 November 2018 with the Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration registered in Salekhard, aimed at fostering information exchange on outcomes and perspectives of Arctic research and exploration; and in support of collaborative platform between educational institutions and labour market actors aimed at targeted capacity building and training in Polar regions. Another development of 2018 was the “Startup-Barents” platform (http://www.rshu.ru/barents/ ) which was not supported financially through Presidential grants. Plans exist to establish bilateral agreements with Tomsk State University BioClimLand Center, an interdisciplinary research cluster working in the field of life and earth sciences; Perm State University and their Polar Ural research station.

 The agreement signed by RSHMU and NANOK on the establishment of stakeholder-academia cooperation pursuing SUNRAISE ojective was signed on November 21, 2018; it is available here. The focal point for the Platform is Edurad Podgaisky of RSHMU ( podgaisky@gmail.com).