EPCO
European Polar Coordination Office
Since its establishment in January 2025, the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) functions as a central contact point for European polar research community, policymakers and decision-makers, including the European Commission. The office builds on the results of the two successful EU PolarNet projects. EPCO continues to coordinate two key platforms developed by the EU PolarNet, the EU Polar Cluster and the Catalyst Platform, which enhance collaboration, communication, and synergy across the European Polar Research Community and various actors.
The EU Polar Cluster brings together leading European polar research initiatives to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and amplify impact in Arctic and Antarctic science.
The Catalyst Platform is a central hub for European polar research, designed to enhance coordination, foster collaboration, and spark new initiatives through continuous information exchange and interactive discussions.
As a dynamic network hub, EPCO fosters collaboration, promotes knowledge exchange, and strengthens integration within the European polar research community. It serves as a key liaison, delivering cutting-edge scientific insights to policymakers and connecting them with relevant research when needed. Additionally, EPCO engages the public through events that highlight the significance of polar research and promote its broader dissemination.
EPCO in a nutshell
EPCO will undertake a variety of initiatives to support European polar science and policy. Examples of key actions include:
- Connect the European polar research community with policymakers to inform decision-making and research priorities
- Coordinate the EU Polar Cluster
- Serve as a connective hub for European polar observation actors & policymakers
- Maintain the Catalyst Platform
- Amplify stakeholder engagement
EPCO was officially announced by the EU Commission during the European Polar Science Week in September 2024.
The EPCO workplace can be found here:
EPCO Workplan
Dr. Maria Grigoratou
Head of EPCO
Maria is a biological oceanographer with expertise in plankton ecology and experience in science diplomacy and research coordination. As Executive Secretary of the European Polar Board (EPB), she leads strategic efforts to strengthen European polar research collaboration and promotes a unified European polar research voice in international fora. She supervises and guides the development of the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO), informed by the collective expertise of EPB Members and decisions of the Plenary. Maria is also a lead author for the 2026 IPBES monitoring assessment. Prior to joining the EPB, she served as the EU Coordinator for the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative at Mercator Ocean International in France and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in the United States. She holds a Greek citizenship.
Dr. Kylie Owen
EPCO Officer
Kylie is a Marine Biologist with expertise in whale ecology and experience completing research in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. She completed her PhD (The University of Queensland, Australia) on humpback whales that feed in Antarctica over summer, and postdoctoral research in Alaska (Alaska Sealife Center, USA). Before joining EPB, she worked for the Swedish Museum of Natural History as a marine mammal expert, and has held adjunct roles at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA) and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (Australia). She has experience in managing research consortiums across multiple countries, and advising policy makers within international conventions to ensure effective use of research results internationally.