05/02/2026
On Wednesday, February 4, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Tromsø, Norway, between the Department of Earth System Sciences and Environmental Technologies of the National Research Council (CNR-DSSTTA) and the University of the Arctic Norway. The agreement aims to strengthen scientific cooperation in the Arctic and to initiate a path of scientific and institutional collaboration on strategic Arctic-related topics.
The document was signed by CNR-DSSTTA Director Francesco Petracchini and the University of the Arctic Norway Vice-Rector Jorgen Berge, in the presence of, among others, the Italian Special Envoy for the Arctic Agostino Pinna and the Science Project Leader of Arctic Ocean 2025 Bodil Bloom. The signing took place within the framework of the international conference “Arctic Frontiers,” which is being held in Tromsø until February 5.
The initiative was launched at the suggestion of the CNR Institute of Polar Sciences (CNR-ISP), which promoted the scientific and institutional dialogue underpinning the agreement, with the goal of consolidating long-term partnerships in a context of increasing international attention to polar regions.
“Science draws strength from open dialogue and exchange, contributing solid evidence and multidisciplinary expertise to processes that shape the future of territories, the environment, and communities. This interaction not only strengthens the quality of public policies but also allows research to grow, gain insights, and better interpret emerging needs. Within this framework, it becomes essential to develop a coordinated strategy that leverages the expertise spread across institutes, fosters the integration of activities, and strengthens presence in national and international contexts, seizing opportunities such as large-scale initiatives like Arctic Ocean 2050, which place the Arctic at the center of global reflection on climate change, ecosystem protection, and socioeconomic impacts,” stated CNR-DSSTTA Director Francesco Petracchini.
The MoU is fully aligned with the path leading to the upcoming Arctic Circle Rome Forum – Polar Dialogue, the international forum promoted as part of the Arctic Circle activities, which will take place on March 3–4, 2026, at CNR headquarters in Rome. The Forum will provide a key platform for strengthening international dialogue on science, policy, and society, and for highlighting the role of Italy and CNR in global polar research.
Among the first lines of collaboration envisaged by the Memorandum of Understanding is the joint contribution to strategic programs currently being defined, particularly Polar Ocean 2050, which focuses on the development of actionable knowledge: operational scientific knowledge useful for supporting informed decision-making and effective public policies. Specific attention will also be given to scientific preparedness, aiming to anticipate unexpected scenarios and the non-linear processes characterizing Arctic systems, thereby enhancing the response capacity of the scientific community and institutions.
“The Memorandum represents a concrete step toward strengthened cooperation based on scientific excellence, training of new generations, and a forward-looking vision of polar research that integrates knowledge, governance, and global responsibility,” added CNR-ISP Director Giuliana Panieri, who also participated as a panelist in a roundtable at the Science Reception organized by the Norwegian Polar Institute at the Fram Centre. There, she represented Italy’s position in Arctic research and presented the recent Italian Arctic strategy. “As the CNR Institute of Polar Sciences, we are also pursuing this mission through the Working Group dedicated to the preparation of the 5th International Polar Year, to be held in 2032–33, an extraordinary opportunity for international scientific cooperation to deepen understanding of polar regions, their environment, and their crucial role in global climate balance”.
Ufficio stampa:
Francesca Gorini
Cnr Press Office
francesca.gorini@cnr.it
Responsabile Unità Ufficio stampa:
Emanuele Guerrini
emanuele.guerrini@cnr.it
ufficiostampa@cnr.it
06 4993 3383