About Us

Established in 1995, The European Polar Board (EPB) was established in 1995 as an Expert Board of the European Science Foundation, formed to provide strategic advice on Arctic and Antarctic issues. Since 2015 Since 2015, it has operated as an independent organization, focusing on major European strategic priorities in both the Arctic and the Antarctic regions.

Today, the EPB brings together 31 members from 22 European countries, including research institutes, funding agencies, scientific academies, ministries, and polar operators. This diverse membership ensures that polar research is approached from multiple perspectives, fostering comprehensive and collaborative strategies for the Arctic and Antarctic.

The EPB envisions a Europe with a strong and cohesive polar research community and wherein decisions affecting or affected by the polar regions are informed by independent, accurate, and timely advice from the EPB.

The EPB has a mission to improve European coordination of Arctic and Antarctic research, by optimising the use of European polar research infrastructures. We promote multilateral collaborations between our Members and provide a single contact point for the global polar community. We advance the collective knowledge of polar issues, particularly in the context of European societal relevance. 

 Between 2015 and 2024, the EPB Secretariat was hosted by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) in The Hague. Since January 2025, the Secretariat has been hosted at the Arctic Centre, Umeå University, Sweden. Alongside this move, the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) has become part of the EPB Secretariat and is now based in Umeå.

EPCO was created through the EU PolarNet projects, the largest EU-funded efforts to strengthen coordination in polar research. It carries forward the legacy of EU PolarNet, ensuring that its achievements and networks continue to benefit the European polar research community. Today, EPCO serves as a hub for researchers and a key contact point for policymakers and decision-makers, including the European Commission.

Membership

Chair & Executive Committee

Strategy

Activities

Agreements

25th Anniversary

History

Secretariat

Other Polar Organisations

Members' Area

Organisational information

The European Polar Board is registered as a Dutch non- profit organisation with ANBI (algemeen nut beogende instelling) status and as a Swedish non-profit organisation. 

Legal name: European Polar Board (EPB)

Legal residence: The Hague, The Netherlands

Rechtspersonen en Samenwerkingsverbanden Informatienummer (RSIN): 856206362

Legal name: European Polar Board (EPB)

Legal residence: Umeå, Sweden

Organisationsummer 802549-4900

The basic conditions for the employment of EPB Secretariat staff are set out in the: