POLARIN: POLAR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK

Project Information

POLARIN

Grant agreement ID: 101130949

DOI

10.3030/101130949

EC signature date 27 October 2023

Start date 1 March 2024

End date 28 February 2029

Funded under

• Research infrastructures

Total cost

€ 14 588 116,68

EU contribution

€ 14 588 114,00

Coordinated by

ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - POLARIN (POLARIN: POLAR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The polar regions are crucial components of the Earth system, highly sensitive to climate change, and their rapid transformations have global impacts on climate, ecosystems, and societies. However, access to these regions and their research infrastructures remains limited.
POLARIN (Polar Research Infrastructure Network) aims to address these challenges by integrating a unique portfolio of world-class polar research infrastructures—covering Arctic and Antarctic stations, vessels, icebreakers, observatories, data infrastructures, and core repositories—into a coordinated access framework.
The project’s objectives are to:

- Provide challenge-driven Transnational Access (TA) and Virtual Access (VA) to polar infrastructures and data.

- Improve data availability and interoperability across polar data services.

- Develop customised data products and a centralised POLARIN Data Hub.

- Train the next generation of polar researchers in safe, sustainable, and efficient use of infrastructures and data.

- Engage stakeholders through communication, dissemination, and outreach activities, ensuring broad societal and policy impact.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work Performed and Main Achievements (March 2024 – August 2025)

During the reporting period, POLARIN has established the foundations for its access and service provision:

- Framework for Access: The procedure for Transnational Access (D1.2) was developed, covering eligibility criteria, evaluation steps, negotiation, implementation, and reporting. This ensures transparency, fairness, and scientific excellence in user selection.

- Scientific Priorities & Evaluation: The Scientific Liaison Panel (SLP) was implemented (D1.1) and the evaluation process defined (D1.3). The first call for proposals (Oct–Nov 2024) attracted 96 submissions, of which 86 were eligible. After external reviews and consensus meetings, 37 projects involving 134 researchers (50% female, 38% early career, 24% non-European) were selected for access to 28 infrastructures.

- The POLARIN TAP platform was launched, building on INTERACCESS, enabling proposal submission, evaluation, and reporting.

- POLARIN Data Hub: Launched 1st September 2025

- POLARIN GIS: Launched 1st of September 2025

- Data Management: A Data Management Plan (D4.1) was delivered, outlining FAIR principles, open data policies, and ethical guidelines.

- Training: first training webinar on planning research expeditions took place in April 2025.

- A high-visibility website and social media channels were launched (D8.1) alongside the brand identity (D8.2) promotional materials (D8.3) and the Communication, Dissemination and Engagement Plan (D8.4).

- Management: Governance structures (General Assembly, Steering Board, Advisory Board) have been implemented. The first and second GAs were held (in-person and virtual). A Quality Assurance Plan (D9.3) was adopted.

- Partnerships: The consortium was updated with new partners (Umeå University, TÜBITAK MAM, Masaryk University) and an associated partner (JAMSTEC), while Lund University withdrew

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

- Integrated Polar Access: For the first time, both Arctic and Antarctic infrastructures, marine and terrestrial,including core repositories and observatories are combined under one access system.

- Evaluation: POLARIN has implemented a two-step evaluation (scientific + logistic) with external experts and infrastructure operators, ensuring that only excellent proposals are considered for implementation.

- Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities: The first call demonstrated strong demand of polar research infrastructures and involvement of researchers from countries without national polar facilities.


By project end, POLARIN will have:

- Supported hundreds of researchers with free access to unique polar infrastructures.

- Delivered interoperable data services and the POLARIN Data Hub, strengthening the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and contributing to the Integrated Polar Observing System (IPOS).

- Advanced scientific knowledge in areas such as sea-ice, glaciers, permafrost, ecosystems, and atmosphere.

- Enhanced capacity-building by training early-career researchers and promoting safe, sustainable polar research practices.

- Increased international cooperation, with strong links to SCAR, IASC, ESA, and the EU Polar Cluster.

- Provided policy-relevant information.

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