White Paper on European Polar infrastructure access and interoperability, including an infrastructure implementation plan for the European Polar Research Programme.

Abstract

European nations operate world-class research infrastructures in the Arctic and Antarctic, which result from a long history of polar research and significant investments made by national polar programmes. The European Polar Infrastructure Catalogue, which EU-PolarNet has compiled, identified 32 European stations in the Antarctic and on the Sub-Antarctic Islands (Fig. 1) and 32 stations in the Arctic (Fig. 2), with 2 icebreakers, 14 ice-strengthened research vessels and an aircraft fleet operating at both poles. These infrastructures are of extreme scientific value, some of them are either strategically located or their mobile capabilities provide them with unique capacities. European infrastructures are based over a large geographical breadth, providing a critical network and a valuable asset for the European Research Area. The European Polar Research Programme (EPRP), created by EU-PolarNet, delineates the future strategy lines for European polar research. It has been developed by an encompassing consultation process involving scientists and polar stakeholders. The EPRP clearly identifies the urgent need to improve coordination among national polar programmes, align operations, implement, or further develop access schemes and foster interoperability of infrastructure and data. This complex endeavour needs to account for the key characteristics of the individual infrastructures and priorities of national research programmes to secure stronger research collaboration and foster scientific impacts. As a result, it will optimise the operational costs and environmental footprint by reducing any possible overlap or duplication of efforts. This more efficient use of resources will also lead to harmonised actions developing more balanced cross-disciplinary observations and science. Improved coordination will also enable better interaction with industry and the private sector, as well as their engagement, boosting research and society interactions. Improved coordination and integration will facilitate connectivity with global networks and systems in and beyond Europe, strengthening sustainable infrastructure development and innovation. This white paper builds upon EU-PolarNet’s experience in bridging scientific and societal needs. It is the infrastructure and logistics response to the research needs addressed in the European Polar Research Programme and shall pave the way for stronger and interconnected European actions at the poles and for a common European voice in Polar organisations and fora.