THE ARTIC INSTITUTE OF NORTH AMERICA

Their core work

The Arctic Institute of North America (AINA), based at the University of Calgary, is a research organization dedicated to Arctic and subarctic science, environmental monitoring, and knowledge sharing. They operate and support research stations across northern regions, facilitating transnational access for scientists studying Arctic ecosystems — from forests and alpine environments to lakes and permafrost. Their H2020 involvement centers on providing North American Arctic research infrastructure and Indigenous knowledge integration to pan-Arctic observation networks. They serve as a critical bridge connecting Canadian Arctic expertise with European research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

AINA's early H2020 work (2016–2019) focused on foundational Arctic research access — transnational access to stations, biodiversity monitoring, and understanding climate feedbacks in specific ecosystems like forests, alpine zones, and lakes. Their more recent involvement (2020–2025) has shifted toward systemic integration: building pan-Arctic observation infrastructure, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, and connecting monitoring data to societal challenges and sustainable development goals. The progression shows a clear move from providing physical research access to shaping how Arctic knowledge is produced, governed, and applied.

AINA is moving toward co-developed, Indigenous-inclusive Arctic observation frameworks — a direction increasingly valued in Arctic policy and research funding.

How they like to work

AINA operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a non-EU partner contributing Canadian Arctic expertise to European-led consortia. Their 94 unique partners across 23 countries indicate they work in very large, internationally diverse networks rather than small focused teams. This breadth suggests they are a trusted, well-connected node in the global Arctic research community, easy to integrate into large infrastructure projects.

With 94 consortium partners spread across 23 countries, AINA has one of the widest geographic networks relative to its project count — reflecting the massive scale of pan-Arctic infrastructure consortia. Their reach spans Europe, North America, and Arctic nations well beyond the EU.

What sets them apart

As a Canadian institution, AINA brings non-European Arctic territory and research infrastructure to EU consortia — something most European partners simply cannot offer. Their deep roots in North American Arctic science and growing expertise in Indigenous knowledge co-development make them a distinctive voice in pan-Arctic projects. For any consortium needing genuine pan-Arctic coverage beyond Scandinavia and European Russia, AINA is a natural partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• INTERACT
  Funded across two consecutive H2020 phases (2016–2021 and 2020–2024), demonstrating sustained commitment to the largest pan-Arctic terrestrial research station network.
• Arctic PASSION
  Represents AINA's expansion into integrated Arctic observation systems with explicit focus on Indigenous knowledge and SAON framework alignment.