Research group
High North Knowledge: Business, Society, and Governance for Arctic Sustainability
The research group is affiliated with the High North Center for Business and Governance at Nord University Business School in Bodø. The group's overarching mission is to generate new knowledge on sustainable development in and for the Arctic regions and the broader Arctic area through high-quality research with national and international impact – in collaboration with actors in business, society, and governance.
Affiliated research division: High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord university Business School
Anatoli Bourmistrov
Elena Dybtsyna
Andrei Mineev
Elena Zhurova Sæther
Ananya Chakrovorty
Ahad Hadian
Anders Christoffer Edstrøm
Maja Wolland Blomberg
Andreas Raspotnik
Andreas Østhagen
Roman Vakulchuk
Geir Hønneland
The research group is closely linked to the educational programs at the High North Center. Several members teach in the master's program Sustainable Leadership and Arctic Perspectives, where students participate in the High North Dialogue conference and develop future scenarios for the Arctic regions.
The group also contributes to the summer school Sustainable Blue Economy in the Arctic, providing students with practical insights into maritime industries and sustainable development in Northern Norway through lectures, company visits, and fieldwork. PhD students are integrated into research activities, including participation in writing grant applications and publishing. The group also contributes to courses at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels and supervises students working on Arctic-related issues.
Members of the research group are involved in several active research projects at the High North Center, including:
– Arctic Business Index (2015–2026): Kunnskapsbasert verktøy for bærekraftig utvikling og verdiskaping i Arktis. Finansiering: 30,1 mill. NOK (UD, Nordland fylkeskommune, Troms og Finnmark fylkeskommune, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, Nordområdesenteret).
– ArcGov (2021–2025): Undersøker Kinas innflytelse på arktiske styringsmekanismer. Finansiering: 11,3 mill. NOK (Norges forskningsråd, Nordområdesenteret).
– ArcBlue (2022–2025): Styrket samarbeid innen blå økonomi mellom Alaska, Grønland og Nord-Norge. Finansiering: 11 mill. NOK (UD, Nordområdesenteret).
– YoungArctic (2024–2026): Kunnskap for å styrke Arktis som attraktiv region for unge. Finansiering: 12 mill. NOK (UD).
– UKRAINETT+ (2024–2026): Styrking av forskningssamarbeid mellom Norge og Ukraina. Finansiering: 4,5 mill. NOK (Norges forskningsråd).
– TURBO (2024–2026): Økt motstandsdyktighet for ukrainske høyere utdanningsinstitusjoner. Finansiering: 9 mill. NOK (EU/Erasmus+).
– BlueConnect (2025): Nytt prosjekt godkjent av Arktisk råds arbeidsgruppe for bærekraftig utvikling, med søknader om finansiering underveis. Fokus på kunnskapsdeling om havutfordringer i fem arktiske land.
– ArcticNext (2025–2026): Studentinnovasjonsutfordring i samarbeid med Memorial University, der studentteam utvikler forretningsideer for arktiske samfunn.
– StayInNorth (2025): Forprosjekt i samarbeid med Joensuu kommune (Finland) om å beholde nyutdannede i nordlige universitetsbyer. Finansiering: 20 000 Euro (Interreg Aurora).
- The research group plans six internal research seminars in 2026 (format: one internal presentation + one external speaker per seminar).
- Planned academic writing seminar with external participants in 2026.
- Goal to submit at least two research grant applications to the Research Council of Norway.
- Planned research stays at international partner institutions (via Erasmus+, North-2-North, etc.).
- Participation with presentations at major Arctic research conferences such as Arctic Frontiers and ICARP, as well as in broader academic debates (NFF, EGOS, IRSPM, EAA).
- High North Dialogue 2026 will be held on April 22–23 at Radisson Blu in Bodø. In the 2025 edition, 365 participants from 30 countries attended.
