NEWS How can six northern universities strengthen their collaboration and work together to address shared challenges in the Arctic? At the Arctic Six Annual Forum 2026 in Bodø on 15–16 October, Umeå University played an active role in discussions on shared priorities and next steps for the Arctic Six.
We are not only researchers in the Arctic, we also live here. We have the expertise and an understanding of the region that comes from being here. Collaboration within Arctic Six brings together different perspectives and a wider network, giving us a stronger collective voice in decisions that affect our region and helping us develop solutions that truly benefit our communities
Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre at Umeå University and Head of the Arctic Six Research Working Group, and Gustav Sigeman from Nord University welcomed participants to the forum's discussions. Keith also presented the new Arctic Six Chairs and their role in strengthening research collaboration across universities and disciplines, including opportunities for joint initiatives and long-term cooperation.
Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre at Umeå University and Head of the Arctic Six Research Working Group, at the Arctic Six Annual Forum 2026 in Bodø.
ImageStella Karlsson GaronziDuring the forum, the future role of the Arctic Six was also discussed in the session What can six universities achieve together that none can achieve alone? Participants discussed shared challenges and priorities, their vision for the future Arctic, with whom they need to collaborate, and how the six universities can contribute. The discussion also addressed how the universities can leveragee their collective strengths to foster collaboration and achieve more together than each university could on its own. Participants were also invited to share their views on the future direction of Arctic Six through a survey on future development and priorities.
“We are not only researchers in the Arctic, but we also live here. We have the expertise and an understanding of the region that comes from being here. Collaboration within Arctic Six brings together different perspectives and a wider network, giving us a stronger collective voice in decisions that affect our region and helping us develop solutions that truly benefit our communities,” says Keith Larson.
Armando Perez-Cueto, Arctic Six Chair at Umeå University from 2024 to 2026, in Bodø
ImageStella Karlsson Garonzi
Armando Perez-Cueto, who was an Arctic Six Chair at Umeå University from 2024 to 2026, led the session Next steps for the new Arctic Six Chairs. He highlighted the new Chairs’ shared research interests, experiences from previous collaborations and what had worked well in those collaborations.
“What struck me across all sessions was that, despite the diversity of topics, there was a shared concern with how Arctic societies can navigate multiple transitions. Whether discussing infrastructure, climate adaptation or health, the underlying question was not only how the Arctic is changing, but how people living in the Arctic can shape those changes and benefit from them,” says Armando Perez-Cueto.
Strengthening Arctic Six also involves developing collaborations beyond the Nordic countries. At the meeting with Canadian universities in Bodø on 13–14 October, which preceded the Arctic Six Annual Forum, two Arctic Six Chairs from Umeå University contributed to discussions on climate, ecosystems and health. By bringing together experience and knowledge from different parts of the Arctic, the collaboration can create better conditions for addressing shared challenges. For Umeå University, this represents an opportunity to develop new research collaborations and to help shape which issues are prioritised.
The Arctic Six Annual Forum 2026 was held at Nord University in Bodø, Norway. The photo was taken in Bodø harbour.
ImageStella Karlsson GaronziThe Arctic Six is an alliance of six northern universities (Umeå University, Luleå University of Technology, University of Oulu, University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and Nord University, Bodø) that collaborate on research, education, and issues important to the Arctic. There are two strategic research programmes within the Arctic Six: the Chairs and the Fellows programme. These programmes aim to create new interdisciplinary research networks and collaborations among the six universities. The Arctic Six programme is coordinated and delivered by the Arctic Centre at Umeå University.