Criteria for support
The application must clarify how the project meets one or more of the program goals
Nordic Arctic Programme can fund both shortterm and longterm projects. A project can receive funding for a maximum of three project periods. Repeated funding cannot be guaranteed.
If you are seeking funding for a continuation of a project that has previously received support from the Nordic Arctic Programme, you must submit a report explaining the results achieved so far and an overwiew of the project accounts.
Goals 2025-2027
Goal 1: A socially resilient Arctic
Together we want to develop attractive and sociably viable civil communities in the Arctic across generations that:
- Increase people-to-people collaboration between local civil communities, indigenous peoples, and children and young people across the Arctic, and create dialogue between citizens and decision makers.
- Enhance physical and mental health, social cohesion and access to welfare services in the Arctic.
- Support Arctic common values with focus on culture, equality, and inclusion
Goal 2: An economic resilient Arctic
Together we want to support the development of local business opportunities and sustainable economic growth in the Arctic by supporting initiatives that:
- Cultivate the skills and the workforce of the future with an emphasis on talent development, skills enhancement, education and training.
- Promote innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on topics such as self-sufficiency, tourism, food production, local food culture and food security.
- Support and strengthen connectivity throughout the Arctic, including better physical and digital infrastructure.
Goal 3: A climate and environmental resilient Arctic
Together we promote a green transition and work for a sustainable circular and bio-based economy by supporting initiatives that:
- Develop stable green energy solutions to local communities and business development in the Arctic.
- Enhance biodiversity and promote a sustainable use of wildlife and marine areas.
- Enhance awareness of the impacts of climate and environmental change on nature, infrastructure and living conditions in the Arctic.
Criteria for Co-operations
- The project generates knowledge, results, and partnerships that create innovative approaches to reaching the goal of a sustainable and resilient Arctic.
- The project supports locally rooted co-operations in the Arctic.
- The project creates results that meet one or more of the three goals and nine subgoals in the programme.
- Projects must include partners from at least three Nordic countries (Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, or Åland). This may be supplemented by participants from one or more non-Nordic countries, e.g. the USA or Canada, as long as the leading partner is from one of the Nordic countries.
- The project respects indigenous and local communities’ rights, knowledge, and perspectives in accordance with ethical standards, and international best practice.
- The project results are as widely as possible made accessible to the public in an Arctic framework; results are disseminated and communicated clearly via popular (scientific) mediation i.e. articles, books, documentaries, blogs, social media, presentations on events, or podcasts
- Always use the logo of the Nordic Council of Minister’s when communicating about the project. You can find the logo here.
Political relevance
The starting point for cooperation financing is, that the work helps to sustain, create, and develop a political agenda, relevant to the Nordic Council of Minister’s collective work.
Read more about the current political agenda:
Read more about the Nordic Council of Ministers’ cross sectorial strategies:
The Nordic Arctic Program does not support
- Projects that have already begun
- Operation of other organizations’ permanent programs, administration, or infrastructure