The project is about strengthening the Arctic as an attractive region for young people to settle, work and live. The project will facilitate and organise activities aimed to motivate young people to participate in value creation in the region. YoungArctic project will also contribute to acquire new knowledge on how to better improve the attractiveness of the Arctic societies. Through network activities, social events and financial support for youth, the project will stimulate participation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the region thus, building sustainable and stronger future societies. The project’s focus area is much in line with the program for the Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council and will contribute to the efforts of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure a vibrant and sustainable Arctic.
The key target groups of the project include:
- Students and young researchers: bachelor, master, PhD students, young scholars
- Youth organizations/leaders/councils, NGOs
- Young entrepreneurs of the Arctic
- Indigenous youth
Main partners:
- High North Center for Business and Governance (HNC) – leading partner
- University of the Arctic/UArctic (administrated by UiT)
- International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA)
Associated partners:
- Association of Polar Early Career Scientists
- Innovation Norge
- The Arctic Institute
All partners have a long experience working with younger target groups and extensive networks in the region withing their respect fields, which include education, business and governance, and research.
Project leader:
Researcher, Elena Zhurova Sæther, elena.z.saether@nord.no
Contact person:
Advisor, Andrey Kazakov andrey.kazakov@nord.no
APRIL 2025
High North Young Entrepreneur 2025
The High North Young Entrepreneur Award 2025 has been executed with support and management of the YoungArctic-project!
The High North Young Entrepreneur contest is an international pitch competition of Arctic-related business ideas of young entrepreneurs and start-ups that is held since 2018. The overall goal of the contest is to bring attention to the economic potential and special needs of the High North areas and to encourage young people to develop their business ideas.
High North Young Entrepreneur 2025 received 16 applications. The winner was chosen by the audience after a live competition between three finalists: Marine Spark X, Pack Away AB, and cruise2feed.
Marine Spark X stood out as the winner of the main prise.
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in the High North: The 15-Minute City
This exciting and thought-provoking workshop was held in connection to the High North Dialogue Conference 2025. The workshop was held by the YoungArctic project in close collaboration with the EduSmart project, exploring the question: How can we create vibrant sustainable urban spaces for young Arctic entrepreneurs?
The goal of this workshop was to inspire and empower young people to drive sustainable change in the Arctic by addressing the unique challenges and opportunities in the region. Through collaborative discussions, participants have shared innovative ideas and explored practical solutions that could help shape the Arctic’s future.
The workshop gathered 18 participants from 8 countries.
JANUARY 2025
Arctic Youth Conference 2025
The YoungArctic in collaboration with the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO), and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) organised the “Early Career Networking and Social Event: Let the Connections Flow!”
This informal networking event was designed for early career researchers, professionals, students, and/or young people with a passion for the Arctic.
OCTOBER 2024
Arctic Congress Bodø 2024
YoungArctic Reception at Arctic Circle Assembly 2024 was held in October in Reykjavik to present the YoungArctic project and discuss the project’s contribution.
MAY 2024
Arctic Congress Bodø 2024
The project has contributed to the organisation and execution of the Arctic Congress Bodø 2024 conference. Arctic Congress Bodø 2024 was the event combining the UArctic Congress, the International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences, and the High North Dialogue conference. All three YoungArctic project partners have been key organisers of the Arctic Congress Bodø 2024.
High North Young Entrepreneur 2024
The High North Center for Business and Governance executed the High North Young Entrepreneur Award 2024! The High North Young Entrepreneur contest is an international pitch competition of Arctic-related business ideas of young entrepreneurs and start-ups. The overall goal of the contest is to bring attention to the economic potential and special needs of the High North areas and to encourage young people to develop their business ideas.
23 start-ups applied for the High North Young Entrepreneur Award 2024. The following three companies was chosen as finalists:
- CapiPro AS from Bodø, for their initiative to utilize polychaete worms as a sustainable marine protein source in fish feed.
- AirVitalize from Fairbanks, Alaska, for their initiative to improve air quality through new technology.
- AAVEQ ROBOTICS from Denmark, for their initiative to develop an autonomous sailing drone that can handle waste in the Arctic in a sustainable manner.
The CapiPro company won the first prise. Our best congratulations to the winner.
