Given the global importance of the Arctic region, and the transnational implications of environmental change in the region, NordForsk is now initiating a larger-scale, joint Nordic Initiative on Arctic Research by establishing Nordic Centres of Excellence (NCoE).

 The call is open to international consortia of researchers and research groups from various sectors, including institutions of higher education, e.g., universities and other research institutions, and other organisations with a strong research focus. Participation in the previous NordForsk call for applications for planning grants (with deadline 5 June 2014) is not mandatory to apply to this NCoE call.

 The programme will invite cross-disciplinary, high quality and innovative NCoE proposals on topics relevant to a responsible development of the Arctic region. The thematic framework for the programme is:

 Drivers of change in the Arctic region - interactions and impacts The programme aims to support analyses of interactions between various natural and societal drivers of change in the Arctic region. New knowledge is needed to increase our understanding of how these processes interact and affect societies and the environment.

Arctic resource development in a global context The Arctic region faces new challenges as well as opportunities regarding value creation in sectors such as energy production, extraction of minerals and metals, construction, tourism, fisheries and shipping. The programme will support NCoEs that analyse this development, its environmental and social impacts in the Arctic region and beyond, as well as the implications of these elements for a responsible development of the Arctic region in a global context.

Waters, ecologies and life environments

Global climate change has consequences for various kinds of life environments in the Arctic region, both natural systems and human societies. Cross-disciplinary NCoEs that add new knowledge relating to the impact of these developments for the future physical and living environment and ecosystems (especially the hydrological cycle), industry and societies will be supported.

NCoE status and funding will be granted for a period of five years.

Three to four NCoEs will be funded.

Proposals should be submitted electronically through NordForsk Application Portal no later than 4 March 2015 at 14.00 CET.

For more information and to apply please see the full call text.

https://funding.nordforsk.org/nordforsk/call/call.jsp?cid=504