Head of EPCO Comments on EU Polar Research Hub in Science|Business

The Head of the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) and Executive Secretary of the European Polar Board (EPB), Maria Grigoratou, was featured in a recent Science|Business article discussing the European Commission’s plans to establish an EU Polar Research Hub.

The initiative, announced as part of the new EU Arctic strategy on 20 October 2026, aims to strengthen European polar research coordination by reinforcing and expanding EPCO.

Commenting on the announcement, Maria Grigoratou described the decision as a “clear and positive signal”, stating:

“By reinforcing EPCO, the Commission has an opportunity to build on the legacy of EU-PolarNet 2, strengthen European polar research coordination and expand cooperation with a broader range of Arctic stakeholders.”

The article also explores the close connections between climate change, environmental protection and European security, highlighting the importance of polar research in informing policy decisions. As Maria emphasised:

“We need to remember that by the time the next Multiannual Financial Framework comes to an end, in 2034, the polar regions, especially the Arctic region, will be living under a new reality when it comes to ecosystem processes, when it comes to the climate. And that will affect any ambition that humans may have in the region.”

This perspective was reinforced by Kati Lindström, Vice-Chair of the Polar Research Committee of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and EPB Alternate Representative for Estonia, who stressed the central role of climate science in addressing Europe's strategic challenges:

“All aspects of European security are dependent on climate change in the Arctic and consequently, on climate science.”

Together, these perspectives highlight the growing importance of polar research in addressing Europe's interconnected climate, environmental and security challenges. Strengthening EPCO through the proposed EU Polar Research Hub offers an important opportunity to enhance European cooperation, ensure that scientific knowledge informs policy decisions, and support a coordinated response to the rapidly changing polar regions.

Read the full article in Science|Business.