Transnational Access Call 2026
Transnational Access Call 2026
This call for proposals is now OPEN
The EU funded project POLARIN invites the scientific community to submit proposals to access 31 Research Infrastructures (RIs) in both polar regions, contributing to addressing key research priorities.
The EU funded project POLARIN invites the scientific community to submit proposals to access 31 Research Infrastructures (RIs) in both polar regions, contributing to addressing key research priorities.
1. CALL DESCRIPTION AND DEADLINE
Proposals submitted to the POLARIN TA Call 2026 must address at least one of the following research priorities:- 1. Sea Ice and Polar Oceans in the Climate System
- 2. Polar Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Sea Level
- 3. Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Permafrost
- 4. Polar Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- 5. Atmosphere Dynamics and Chemistry
- 6. Paleoclimate Processes and Variability
- 7. Humans, Societies and Global Changes
- 8. Closing Polar Knowledge Gaps
More information about the content of each research priority can be found below. Download the Guidelines for Applicants with detailed instructions and important information on this call. Deadline for submission of proposals: 29th of October 2026, 4 pm CET. The proposals applying to the POLARIN TA call must be submitted through the POLARIN Transnational Access Platform (POLARIN TAP) on-line system by the proposal deadline. Late submissions and submissions via any other channel will not be accepted. The access decisions will be announced in mid-March 2027 via the POLARIN TAP.
- 1. Sea Ice and Polar Oceans in the Climate System
- 2. Polar Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Sea Level
- 3. Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Permafrost
- 4. Polar Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- 5. Atmosphere Dynamics and Chemistry
- 6. Paleoclimate Processes and Variability
- 7. Humans, Societies and Global Changes
- 8. Closing Polar Knowledge Gaps
2. WEBINAR FOR APPLICANTS
The Webinar for Applicants will take place on September 14th at 13:00 – 15:00 CEST. The webinar will provide information about the TA/RA call and will answer questions related to the application process and TA and RA in general. Join the webinar from this link. You will find the webinar recording and presentations here to download after the event.
3. CALL TOPIC: RESEARCH PRIORITIES IN POLAR REGIONS
Proposals must contribute to addressing at least one of the following key research priorities in the polar regions:- 1. Sea Ice and Polar Oceans in the Climate System: Understanding the properties and dynamics of the sea ice covers and polar oceans and their mutual interaction, their variability at all time scales and their relations to the atmosphere and land is essential to evaluate their role in shaping regional and global climate and major biogeochemical cycles. This includes determining the conditions of occurrence of extreme events such as marine heat waves as drivers of sea ice retreat, the role of sea ice in the Earth’s surface energy balance, the causes of changes in ocean bottom waters properties in relation to their source waters and their impact on the global overturning circulation, the biogeochemical ocean processes in relation to nutrient cycling, ocean carbon uptake, or the release of greenhouse gases from under-ice waters.
- 2. Polar Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Sea Level: Understanding the behavior of the polar ice sheets and glaciers is essential to narrow down the uncertainties on their contributions to global sea-level rise under current and future climate scenarios, including risks of possible collapse in the future. Focus should be put on understanding the dynamics of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, including the impact of subglacial processes on the ice flow, the ice sheet mass balances, and the leading processes controlling their stability, and on monitoring the polar glacier mass balance and retreat in response to global warming.
- 3. Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Permafrost: Investigating the terrestrial carbon cycle in polar regions, particularly the role of permafrost and polar ecosystems in storing and releasing carbon, is essential to understand the implications for the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and potentially global warming. This includes understanding the permafrost dynamics, distribution and state in Arctic regions, including events of rapid thawing, and quantifying carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from permafrost regions and possible feedback mechanisms.
- 4. Polar Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Understanding the structure, function, and biodiversity of polar ecosystems and how these are affected by environmental changes across different geographical sectors and habitats, including the cumulative effects of multiple drivers, is essential to plan for improved management of these unique ecosystems. Focus should be put on the drivers and characterization of changes, possible occurrence of thresholds or irreversible changes, the connectivity with the lower latitudes and the impacts of human activities.
- 5. Atmosphere dynamics and chemistry: Investigating the atmosphere dynamics and processes in polar regions and their influence on local and global climate systems is essential to improve regional and global climate projections and to plan for the extent of regional and global warming, including changes in extremes in the polar regions and beyond. Focus should be on characterizing changes in weather systems, clouds, and precipitation in the polar regions, understanding the role of clouds in the energy balance and major climate feedbacks in the polar regions, including the major cloud-aerosol feedback, the unique polar atmosphere chemistry, and the sources, pathways and impacts of atmospheric pollutants.
- 6. Paleoclimate Processes and Variability: Collecting and analyzing ice and sediment cores and reconstructing past climate conditions in polar regions is essential to improve understanding of long-term trends and natural climate variability, including past glaciations, ice sheet extent and retreat patterns, and to inform climate projections. This includes integrating multiple proxy data sources to create comprehensive reconstructions of past climate variability and its drivers.
- 7. Humans, societies and global changes: Assessing the impacts of global changes on humans and societies in the polar regions is essential to develop strategies for adaptation and resilience. Focus should be put on understanding the socio-economic impacts on Arctic communities, including cumulative impacts, on livelihoods, health and well-being and adaptation pathways based on co-production of indigenous and scientific knowledge, the contribution of economic development and innovation to welfare, the interdependency between subsistence economy and industrial activities, and impacts on education and schooling trends.
- 8. Closing (selected) Polar Knowledge Gaps: Understanding and reducing uncertainties in remote sensing products, upscaling products, and Earth System Models is essential to improve our capacity to observe, understand, and predict environmental and climate change in the polar regions. POLARIN has identified regions and infrastructures where large discrepancies exist between observing systems and where independent in-situ observations are lacking for key essential climate variables. Priority should be given to excellent science projects that will add targeted observations that can help validate and calibrate remote sensing products, upscaling products and models for selected variables, regions and infrastructure, specified in this link.
- 1. Sea Ice and Polar Oceans in the Climate System: Understanding the properties and dynamics of the sea ice covers and polar oceans and their mutual interaction, their variability at all time scales and their relations to the atmosphere and land is essential to evaluate their role in shaping regional and global climate and major biogeochemical cycles. This includes determining the conditions of occurrence of extreme events such as marine heat waves as drivers of sea ice retreat, the role of sea ice in the Earth’s surface energy balance, the causes of changes in ocean bottom waters properties in relation to their source waters and their impact on the global overturning circulation, the biogeochemical ocean processes in relation to nutrient cycling, ocean carbon uptake, or the release of greenhouse gases from under-ice waters.
- 2. Polar Ice Sheets, Glaciers and Sea Level: Understanding the behavior of the polar ice sheets and glaciers is essential to narrow down the uncertainties on their contributions to global sea-level rise under current and future climate scenarios, including risks of possible collapse in the future. Focus should be put on understanding the dynamics of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, including the impact of subglacial processes on the ice flow, the ice sheet mass balances, and the leading processes controlling their stability, and on monitoring the polar glacier mass balance and retreat in response to global warming.
- 3. Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Permafrost: Investigating the terrestrial carbon cycle in polar regions, particularly the role of permafrost and polar ecosystems in storing and releasing carbon, is essential to understand the implications for the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and potentially global warming. This includes understanding the permafrost dynamics, distribution and state in Arctic regions, including events of rapid thawing, and quantifying carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from permafrost regions and possible feedback mechanisms.
- 4. Polar Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Understanding the structure, function, and biodiversity of polar ecosystems and how these are affected by environmental changes across different geographical sectors and habitats, including the cumulative effects of multiple drivers, is essential to plan for improved management of these unique ecosystems. Focus should be put on the drivers and characterization of changes, possible occurrence of thresholds or irreversible changes, the connectivity with the lower latitudes and the impacts of human activities.
- 5. Atmosphere dynamics and chemistry: Investigating the atmosphere dynamics and processes in polar regions and their influence on local and global climate systems is essential to improve regional and global climate projections and to plan for the extent of regional and global warming, including changes in extremes in the polar regions and beyond. Focus should be on characterizing changes in weather systems, clouds, and precipitation in the polar regions, understanding the role of clouds in the energy balance and major climate feedbacks in the polar regions, including the major cloud-aerosol feedback, the unique polar atmosphere chemistry, and the sources, pathways and impacts of atmospheric pollutants.
- 6. Paleoclimate Processes and Variability: Collecting and analyzing ice and sediment cores and reconstructing past climate conditions in polar regions is essential to improve understanding of long-term trends and natural climate variability, including past glaciations, ice sheet extent and retreat patterns, and to inform climate projections. This includes integrating multiple proxy data sources to create comprehensive reconstructions of past climate variability and its drivers.
- 7. Humans, societies and global changes: Assessing the impacts of global changes on humans and societies in the polar regions is essential to develop strategies for adaptation and resilience. Focus should be put on understanding the socio-economic impacts on Arctic communities, including cumulative impacts, on livelihoods, health and well-being and adaptation pathways based on co-production of indigenous and scientific knowledge, the contribution of economic development and innovation to welfare, the interdependency between subsistence economy and industrial activities, and impacts on education and schooling trends.
- 8. Closing (selected) Polar Knowledge Gaps: Understanding and reducing uncertainties in remote sensing products, upscaling products, and Earth System Models is essential to improve our capacity to observe, understand, and predict environmental and climate change in the polar regions. POLARIN has identified regions and infrastructures where large discrepancies exist between observing systems and where independent in-situ observations are lacking for key essential climate variables. Priority should be given to excellent science projects that will add targeted observations that can help validate and calibrate remote sensing products, upscaling products and models for selected variables, regions and infrastructure, specified in this link.
4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Proposals for access received by the notified submission date will only be accepted for evaluation if they meet the following Eligibility Criteria:- 1. Affiliation: a) The User Group Leader and the majority of the users must work in an institution based in an European Union Member State or HORIZON EUROPE associated country , with the exception of user groups led by Ukrainian researchers from government-controlled territories. b) The user group leader and at least the 80% of the users must work in countries other than the country(ies) were the legal entity operating the requested infrastructure is based. When the infrastructure is composed of several research facilities, operated by different legal entities, this condition must apply to each facility. c) User groups with more than four users must include researchers from at least two different countries.
- The User Group listed in POLARIN TAP should not include any additional members that are not accessing the infrastructure(s), either in person or via remote access.
- 2. Expertise: The user group leader must have the appropriate expertise to lead the research at the requested research infrastructure.
- 3. Duration of the period of access to RIs: The maximum duration of granted access at a RI is limited to the units of access offered in POLARIN and must in any case be less than three months per person.
- 4. Key research priorities: Proposals must contribute to addressing at least one of the key research priorities in the polar regions as detailed in the call text. More information available above and at eu-polarin.eu.
- 5. Dissemination: Only user groups that are allowed and willing to disseminate the results they have generated under the project are eligible for access (unless the users are working for SMEs).
- 6. Data policy: User groups must agree to comply with the POLARIN data policy.
- 7. Application documents: Proposals with Project Descriptions and CVs failing to follow the instructed structure and exceeding the maximum length will be rejected from the evaluation as non-eligible. See the document templates with the embedded guidelines for the maximum length of appendices.
The non-fulfillment of any of the previous criteria implies non-acceptance of the proposal for further evaluation.
- 1.Affiliation:a) The User Group Leader and the majority of the users must work in an institution based in an European Union Member State or HORIZON EUROPE associated country , with the exception of user groups led by Ukrainian researchers from government-controlled territories.b) The user group leader and at least the 80% of the users must work in countries other than the country(ies) were the legal entity operating the requested infrastructure is based. When the infrastructure is composed of several research facilities, operated by different legal entities, this condition must apply to each facility.c) User groups with more than four users must include researchers from at least two different countries.
- The User Group listed in POLARIN TAP should not include any additional members that are not accessing the infrastructure(s), either in person or via remote access.
- 2. Expertise: The user group leader must have the appropriate expertise to lead the research at the requested research infrastructure.
- 3. Duration of the period of access to RIs: The maximum duration of granted access at a RI is limited to the units of access offered in POLARIN and must in any case be less than three months per person.
- 4. Key research priorities: Proposals must contribute to addressing at least one of the key research priorities in the polar regions as detailed in the call text. More information available above and at eu-polarin.eu.
- 5. Dissemination: Only user groups that are allowed and willing to disseminate the results they have generated under the project are eligible for access (unless the users are working for SMEs).
- 6. Data policy: User groups must agree to comply with the POLARIN data policy.
- 7. Application documents: Proposals with Project Descriptions and CVs failing to follow the instructed structure and exceeding the maximum length will be rejected from the evaluation as non-eligible. See the document templates with the embedded guidelines for the maximum length of appendices.
5. ACCESS MODALITIES
POLARIN provides Transnational Access (TA) free of charge to research infrastructures for selected user groups. Transnational access can be either in-person (hands-on) or remote. In-person access means free of charge, transnational (or cross-border) access to research infrastructures or installations for selected user groups. The access includes the use of the RI, and the logistical, technological and scientific support and the specific training for researchers using the infrastructure. Remote Access is a form of Transnational Access in which the user(s) do not visit the infrastructure/installation physically themselves; instead, the users are either provided with reference materials or samples, get access to a high-performance computing facility, or receive the data from the study that the staff of the infrastructure/installation has conducted according to their research plan and protocol. It is also possible to combine in-person and Remote Access, meaning that users physically visit the station and set up the required field experiments/monitoring, after which study continues by using Remote Access.
POLARIN provides Transnational Access (TA) free of charge to research infrastructures for selected user groups. Transnational access can be either in-person (hands-on) or remote.
In-person access means free of charge, transnational (or cross-border) access to research infrastructures or installations for selected user groups. The access includes the use of the RI, and the logistical, technological and scientific support and the specific training for researchers using the infrastructure.
Remote Access is a form of Transnational Access in which the user(s) do not visit the infrastructure/installation physically themselves; instead, the users are either provided with reference materials or samples, get access to a high-performance computing facility, or receive the data from the study that the staff of the infrastructure/installation has conducted according to their research plan and protocol.
It is also possible to combine in-person and Remote Access, meaning that users physically visit the station and set up the required field experiments/monitoring, after which study continues by using Remote Access.
6. INFRASTRUCTURES OFFERING ACCESS IN POLARIN TA CALL 2026
Twenty-nine (29) of the POLARIN RIs are offering Transnational Access in the 2026 Call for Proposals. Detailed information about the RIs and their conditions for access can be found on the POLARIN website. Map-based information on the RIs can be found from POLARIN GIS (Arctic and Antarctic terrestrial RIs and Vessels), PolarDex (Antarctic RIs and vessels), and individual websites of the Ris. * for simplification, in this table we use the terms TA for in person access, RA for remote access, TA/RA for both in person and remote access.
Twenty-nine (29) of the POLARIN RIs are offering Transnational Access in the 2026 Call for Proposals. Detailed information about the RIs and their conditions for access can be found on the POLARIN website. Map-based information on the RIs can be found from POLARIN GIS (Arctic and Antarctic terrestrial RIs and Vessels), PolarDex (Antarctic RIs and vessels), and individual websites of the Ris.
* for simplification, in this table we use the terms TA for in person access, RA for remote access, TA/RA for both in person and remote access.
| RI Name | Partner (acronym) | Operator country/Country code | Location | Access modality TA &/or RA* | Contribution to research priorities** | Units available in the 3rd call | Typical duration of work | RI availability in TA Call 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Stations | |||||||||
| Abisko Scientific Research Station | SPRS | Sweden | Abisko, Sweden | TA/RA | 2–7 | Not available | 13 days | Not offered in this call | |
| Adam Mickiewicz University Polar Station | AMU | Poland | Petunia Bay, Spitsbergen, Norway | TA | 2–7 | 100 user/days | 1-2 weeks | TA: 20.06. - 10.09.2027 | |
| Arctic DTU Research Station | DTU | Denmark | Sisimiut, Greenland | TA | 2–7 | 100 user/days | 1-3 weeks | TA: 15.05 – 30.06.2027; 01.08. – 15.08.2027; 10.09. – 15.12.2027 | |
| Arctic Station | UCPH | Denmark | Disko Island, Greenland | TA | 1–7 | Not available | 7 days | Not offered in this call | |
| AWIPEV Base | AWI/IPEV | Germany/France | Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway | TA | 1–7 | Not available | 14 days | Not offered in this call | |
| Barrow Arctic Research Center | UICS | USA | Utqiagvik, Alaska, USA | TA/RA | 1–7 | 2 weeks | Not offered in this call | ||
| Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Complex | ULAVAL | Canada | Whapmagoostui, Nunavik, Québec, Canada | TA/RA | 1–8 | Not available | 10-15 days | Not offered in this call | |
| Arctic Station Dirigibile Italia | CNR | Italy | Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway | RA | 2,4–7 | TA: 14 user/days or RA: 46 user/days | 15 days, see RI description for accessing the associated observatories | TA/RA: 01.03 – 30.09.2027 | |
| Greenland Institute of Natural Resources | GINR | Greenland (Denmark) | Nuuk, Greenland | TA/RA | 1–7 | Not available | 1-2 weeks | Not offered in this call | |
| Polish Polar Station Hornsund | IGF PAS | Poland | Hornsund Fjord, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway | TA/RA | 1–7 | 99 user/days | 14 days | TA/RA: 01.04.- 31.10.2027 | |
| Kevo Research Station | UTU | Finland | Utsjoki, Finland | TA/RA | 3–7 | 80 user/days | 5-30 days | TA/RA: 01.04.2027– 30.04.2028 | |
| Kilpisjärvi Biological Station | UH | Finland | Kilpisjärvi, Finland | TA/RA | 3–7 | 42 user/days | 1 week | TA/RA: 01.04.2027– 30.04.2028 | |
| Koltur Research Station | SAVN | Faroe Islands (Denmark) | Tórshavn Municipality, Faroe Islands. | TA/RA | 1, 4–8 | 50 user/days | 5 days | TA/RA: 31.05. – 27.08.2027 | |
| Nicolaus Copernicus University Polar Station | UMK | Poland | Kaffiøyra Svalbard, Norway | TA/RA | 1–7 | 105 user/days | 1-2 weeks | TA/RA: 10.07. – 10.09.2027 | |
| Oulanka Research Station | UOULU | Finland | Kuusamo, Finland | TA/RA | 4–8 | 60 user/days | 5-14 days | TA/RA: 01.04.2027– 30.04.2028 | |
| Pallas-Sodankylä Atmosphere-Ecosystem Supersite | FMI | Finland | Muonio, Finland (Pallastunturi); Sodankylä, Finland (Sodankylä) | TA/RA | 4–7 | 52 user/days | 10-15 days | TA/RA: 01.04.2027– 30.04.2028 | |
| The DMI Geophysical Observatory Qaanaaq | DMI | Denmark | Qaanaaq, Greenland | TA | 1, 3–7 | 78 user/days | 1-2 weeks | TA: 01.04. – 31.12.2027 | |
| Rif Field Station | RIF | Iceland | Raufarhöfn, Iceland | TA/RA | 1, 4–7 | 40 user/days | 2 weeks for TA, 1 week for RA | RA: 01.03 – 31.10.2027 | |
| Sermilik Station | UCP, UGRAZ | Denmark, Austria | Sermilik Fjord, Ammassalik Island, Greenland | TA | 1–7 | Not available | 7-10 days | Not offered in this call | |
| Sudurnes Science and Learning Center | SSLC | Iceland | Sangerdi, Iceland | TA | 4–8 | 60 user/days | Few days up to 1 month | TA/RA: 01/04 – 15/12/2027 | |
| Ny-Ålesund Research Station – Sverdrup | NPI | Norway | Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard | TA | 1,2,4–7 | 23 user/days | 1-2 weeks | TA: 01.06. – 30.09.2027 | |
| Toolik Field Station | UAF | USA | North Slope of Alaska, USA | TA/RA | 3–7 | Not available | 1-2 weeks | Not offered in this call | |
| Tarfala Research Station | SU | Sweden | Tarfala Valley, Kiruna municipality, Swedish Lapland | TA/RA | 2–7 | Not available | 4-10 days | Not offered in this call | |
| NERC: Ny-Ålesund Research Station – Harland-Cox Huset | UKRI | United Kingdom | Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway | TA | 1,2,3,4–7 | 60 user/days | 14 days | TA: 01.02. - 31/03/2027; 01.02.– 31.03.2028 | |
| Villum Research Station | AU | Denmark | Station Nord, Greenland | TA/RA | 2–7 | Not available | 1-4 weeks | Not offered in this call | |
| Western Arctic Research Centre | ARI | Canada | Inuvik, Norwest Territories, Canada | TA/RA | 1–8 | 75 user/days | 9 days | TA/RA: 01.04.2027– 30.04.2028 | |
| Zackenberg Research Station | AU | Denmark | North-East Greenland | TA/RA | 1–7 | Not available | 2-3 weeks | Not offered in this call | |
| Observatories | |||||||||
| FRAM: Frontiers in Arctic Marine Monitoring observatory | AWI | Germany | Fram Strait and Central Arctic Ocean | RA only | 1,2,4,6,7 | Not available | 1-2 sensors (max 8) | Not offered in this call | |
| Many research stations have associated access to observatories/monitoring networks. The access is connected to the RI where the observatory is located. Check the research station descriptions for details. | |||||||||
| Antartic Stations | |||||||||
| Akademik Vernadsky Station | NASC | Ukraine | Galindez Island, Argentine Islands Archipelago, Antarctica | TA/RA | 1–6 | 118 user/days (max 4 users) | 1 month to max 90 days | TA/RA: 01.12.2027 – 28.02.2028 | |
| Bulgarian Antarctic Base St. Kliment Ohridski | BAI | Bulgaria | Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica | TA/RA | 1–5 | 120 user/days | 10-30 days | TA/RA: 01.01. – 15.02.2028 | |
| Concordia Station | CNR/IPEV | Italy | East Antarctic Plateau, Antarctica | RA | 2,5,6 and Antarctica InSync | 15 user/days (user groups of max 2 users) | 15 days | RA: 10.11.2027 – 31.01.2028 | |
| Professor Julio Escudero Station | INACH | Chile | King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica | TA/RA | 1, 3–6 | 40 user/days | 15-30 days | Not offered in this call | |
| Spanish Antarctic Station “Gabriel de Castilla” | MCIN | Spain | Deception Island, Antarctica | TA | 4–6 | 135 user/days | 15 days | TA: 01.01. – 25.03.2028 | |
| Juan Carlos I Antarctic Station | CSIC | Spain | Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica | TA | 4–6 and Antarctica InSync | 105 user/days | 15 days | TA: 01.01. – 25.03.2028 | |
| Mario Zucchelli Station | CNR | Italy | Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica | TA/RA | 1–5, 6 | 20 user/days | 15-20 days | TA/RA: 10.11.2027 – 31.01.2028 | |
| Neumayer Station III | AWI | Germany | Ekström Ice Shelf, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica | TA/RA | 1,2,4–6 and Antarctica InSync | Upon availability (Access Pool) | 42 days | TA/RA: 01.11.2027 – 29.02.2028 | |
| Captain Arturo Prat Navy Station Laboratories | INACH | Chile | Iquique Cove, Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica | TA | 1,3–7 | 90 user/days | 15-30 days | Not offered in this call | |
| Troll Research Station | NPI | Norway | Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica | TA | 1,2,4–7 and Antarctica InSync | 45 user/days | 1 month | TA: 01.11.2027 – 15.02.2028 | |
| Wasa Station | SPRS | Sweden | Princess Martha Coast Queen Maud Land, Antarctica | RA only | 1,2,4–7 and Antarctica InSync | Upon availability (Access Pool) | 1 week | RA: 15/12/2027 – 31/01/2028 | |
| Polar vessels and platforms | |||||||||
| CCGS Amundsen | ULAVAL | Canada | Everywhere in the Canadian Archipelago and adjacent Arctic seas. | TA/RA | 1,2,4–7 | Upon availability (Access Pool) | 14-28 days at sea | TA: 01.06 – 30.11.2027; 01.07 - 30.09.2028 | |
| Arni Fridriksson | MFRI | Iceland | North Atlantic/Polar area – Iceland | TA/RA | 1,2,4–7 | Upon availability (Access Pool) | TA/RA: 01.04.2027 - 30.04.2028 | ||
| RV Celtic Explorer | MI | Ireland | Polar code region up to 82 N in Summer/Early Autumn. Greenland to Norway. | TA/RA | 1,2,4–7 | Upon availability (Access Pool) | 20 days at sea | TA/RA: 01.01.2028 – 31.12.2028 | |
| MV Le Commandant Charcot | PONANT | France | Arctic and Antarctic: See detailed information in vessel description. | TA/RA | 1,2,4–7 and Antarctica InSync | Upon availability (Access Pool) | 2-3 weeks at sea | TA: See more information on the RI description webpage. | |
| RV Dana | DTU | Denmark | Greenland and Nordic seas. | TA/RA | 1,2,4–7 | Not available | 7-21 days | Not offered in this call | |
| HAAKON RV Kronprins Haakon | NPI | Norway | Arctic Ocean and Fram Strait. | TA/RA | 1,2,4–6 | Not available | 25 days at sea | Not offered in this call | |
| BIO Hespérides | MCIN | Spain | Antarctic: South Drake passage, Bransfield Strait, and South Orkney-Elephant Island Strait | TA/RA | 1,2,4 | Not available | 30 days at sea | Not offered in this call | |
| RS Karpuj | INACH | Chile | The vessel is only available in combination with Prat or Escudero stations, South Shetlands Islands | TA/RA | 1,2,4,5,6 | 15 days for a user group of up to 5 users | 1-10 work days | Not offered in this call | |
| RVIB Laura Bassi | OGS | Italy | Ross Sea and George V Land – Adelie Land | TA/RA | 1,2,4–6 | Not available | 45 days at sea | Not offered in this call | |
| RV MIRAI II | JAMSTEC | Japan | Sea of Okhotsk, the Pacific side of the Arctic Ocean (e.g. the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas) | TA | 1-Jul | Up to 5 operational days for a user group of up to 3 users | 30-40 days at sea | TA (Sea of Okhotsk):07/02-07/03/2028, TA (Pacific side of the Arctic Ocean, e.g. the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas):17/06-24/08/2028 | |
| Noosfera | NASC | Ukraine | Cape Town – Ushuaia – Academik Vernadskyi Antarctic Station – Ushuaia – Cape Town | TA/RA | 1,2,4–6 | Upon availability (Access Pool) | 28 days at sea | TA/RA: 01.12.2027 – 28.02.2028 | |
| RV Polarstern | AWI | Germany | Weddel Sea in the frame of Antarctica InSync | TA/RA | 1,2,4–6 Antarctica InSync only | Not available | 42 days at sea | Not offered in this call | |
| TARA polar station | TARA | France | Central Arctic Ocean, Tara Polaris I drift (until Dec -27), Tara Polaris II drift (Sept -28 to Dec -28) | RA | 1,2,4–6 Tara Polaris only | 45 days | up to 100 days at sea | RA: See more information on the RI description webpage | |
| Core Repositories | |||||||||
| AWI Ice Core Repository | AWI | Germany | Bremerhaven, DE | RA | 6 | See call to core repositories | 1-3 days | Offered in the call to access core repositories | |
| AWI Sediment Core Repository | AWI | Germany | Bremerhaven, DE | TA/RA | 6 | See call to core repositories | 1-3 days | Offered in the call to access core repositories | |
| UK Polar Sediment Core Facility | UKRI | United Kingdom | Cambridge, UK | TA/RA | 6 | See call to core repositories | 1-3 days | Offered in the call to access core repositories | |
| Core repository and geological laboratories | UIT/APECS | Norway | Tromsø, NO | TA/RA | 6 | See call to core repositories | Variable, see RI description | Offered in the call to access core repositories | |
7. HOW TO APPLY?
- 1. Read carefully the Guidelines for Applicants.
- 2. Create a user account in POLARIN TAP.
- 3. Contact the RI operators you are applying for access to consult if your proposal is feasible to be conducted at the RI.
- 4. Fill in the application form in POLARIN TAP.
- 5. Prepare and upload the appendices to the application.
- 6. Submit before the deadline.
Fill in the application form carefully. You can work on the application in several sessions and store the application in-between the sessions, but you can submit only one application per call. The user group listed in POLARIN TAP must consist of the User Group Leader and users accessing the infrastructure, any other collaborators indirectly involved should not be included. Information on how to calculate the budget and units of access can be found at the Guidelines for Applicants. Details on how to put together the proposal budget can be found in the Budgeting Guidelines for Applicants. To apply, applicants must comply with the POLARIN Data Policy. In addition, in accordance with the Horizon Europe open access policy, all publications and data arising from data acquired through POLARIN Transnational Access must be made openly accessible. This obligation ensures that research funded by the European Union remains widely available to the scientific community and the public, fostering transparency, innovation, and collaboration. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Information for TA users, which provides detailed guidance on project implementation, reporting and open access for publications and data arising from projects granted by POLARIN. Templates and other documents required at proposal submission Applicants are requested to provide a Project Description, the CV of the User Group Leader, and a preliminary TA Data Management Plan in the application. The templates including guidelines can be downloaded from the POLARIN website and from the POLARIN TAP. Project description: The Research Plan must follow the structure provided in the Project Description Template and Guidelines and adhere to the maximum number of pages depending on the type of RI you are applying for access. CV of the User group Leader: Use the POLARIN CV template to fill in the CV of the user group leader. The page limit is 1 page. Preliminary TA Data Management Plan: Use the POLARIN template Preliminary TA Data Management Plan (DMP) to describe the management of data gathered by your project. The DMP will only be assessed if the project is selected for implementation, but a preliminary version must be submitted with the proposal. Letter of recommendation: Early career researchers (undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate level up to 5 years active in science after last degree) applying as user group leader must provide 1-2 letters of recommendation from their academic supervisor and/or other relevant person in support of their application. Proposals applying for access to TARA Polar Station or in the frame of Antarctic InSync must request an endorsement letter from those initiatives and submit the endorsement together with their application in POLARIN TAP, in a separate file. See guidelines in Section 8 on this page.
- 1. Read carefully the Guidelines for Applicants.
- 2. Create a user account in POLARIN TAP.
- 3. Contact the RI operators you are applying for access to consult if your proposal is feasible to be conducted at the RI.
- 4. Fill in the application form in POLARIN TAP.
- 5. Prepare and upload the appendices to the application.
- 6. Submit before the deadline.
8. ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENT TO ACCESS TARA POLAR STATION AND ANTARCTICA INSYNC
Applicants intending to request access to TARA Polar Station or to Antarctic research infrastructures participating in Antarctica InSync must obtain an endorsement letter confirming that their proposed research contributes to the respective initiative’s science plan. This additional requirement ensures alignment with the strategic scientific objectives of these international efforts. How to request an endorsement letter:- Applicants must prepare a short project summary following the provided template and send it by email to the relevant contact point listed below.
- The request should be made as soon as possible and before the endorsement request deadline, to allow sufficient time for review and issuance of the endorsement letter.
Initiative-specific details:
- Applicants must prepare a short project summary following the provided template and send it by email to the relevant contact point listed below.
- The request should be made as soon as possible and before the endorsement request deadline, to allow sufficient time for review and issuance of the endorsement letter.
| Initiative | Contact Email | Template Endorsement Request | Science Plan | Deadline to request the endorsement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TARA Polar Station | Marcel Babin and Clémentine Moulin | Endorsement request template Tara Polaris | Tara Polaris I Science Goals and Objectives | 30th of September 2026 |
| Marcel.Babin[at]takuvik.ulaval.ca | Website Tara Polar Station | |||
| clementine[at]fondationtaraocean.org | ||||
| Antarctica InSync | info[at]antarctica-insync.org | Endorsement request template InSync | Website Antarctica InSync | 30th of September 2026 |
| Scientific themes still developing. Contact Antarctica InSync for further details and information. | Factsheet Antarctica InSync |
Upload Requirement: The endorsement letter must be uploaded in the POLARIN Transnational Access Platform (TAP) as part of your proposal submission. Applications without the required endorsement will be deemed ineligible to contribute to these initiatives.
9. EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
The evaluation and selection process, including the evaluation criteria and access priorities are described in detail in the Guidelines for Applicants. Applicants are additionally encouraged to consult the Information for TA Users page, which provides detailed guidance on project implementation, reporting and open access for publications and data arising from projects granted by POLARIN.
The evaluation and selection process, including the evaluation criteria and access priorities are described in detail in the Guidelines for Applicants.
Applicants are additionally encouraged to consult the Information for TA Users page, which provides detailed guidance on project implementation, reporting and open access for publications and data arising from projects granted by POLARIN.
10. CONTACT INFORMATION
General questions about POLARIN TA applications: polarin_ta@listserv.dfn.de For any inquiry regarding the Scientific Evaluation of Proposals, please contact: polarin_evaluation_secretariat@ogs.it Technical matters regarding POLARIN TAP: polarin@inkode.it
General questions about POLARIN TA applications: polarin_ta@listserv.dfn.de
For any inquiry regarding the Scientific Evaluation of Proposals, please contact: polarin_evaluation_secretariat@ogs.it
Technical matters regarding POLARIN TAP: polarin@inkode.it
11. DISCLAIMER
All travel arrangements to POLARIN research infrastructures are the responsibility of the applicant. In case of technical or logistical challenges, user groups should first contact the Research Infrastructure Manager/Operator. Only in exceptional situations, where local personnel cannot assist, should POLARIN coordination be contacted. POLARIN is not liable for any injuries, damages, or losses that may occur during access to its infrastructures. User groups are responsible for organizing their own travel, ensuring they have appropriate travel and health insurance, and fulfilling all passport, visa, vaccination, and other entry requirements for each destination. It is also the responsibility of the user groups to be aware of safety and security conditions at their respective research sites throughout their travel and stay. All members of user groups must have sufficient travel and health insurance and be clear on their legal responsibilities through their employers. POLARIN does not cover the cost of insurance or any additional expenses arising from unforeseen circumstances such as travel delays, cancellations, customs, shipment, or other logistical issues. POLARIN also assumes no legal responsibility for the health and welfare, including emergency and accident situations, of those awarded access to its infrastructures. By applying for access through POLARIN, you confirm that you have read and accepted these terms and agree with our Data Protection Policy.
All travel arrangements to POLARIN research infrastructures are the responsibility of the applicant. In case of technical or logistical challenges, user groups should first contact the Research Infrastructure Manager/Operator. Only in exceptional situations, where local personnel cannot assist, should POLARIN coordination be contacted.
POLARIN is not liable for any injuries, damages, or losses that may occur during access to its infrastructures. User groups are responsible for organizing their own travel, ensuring they have appropriate travel and health insurance, and fulfilling all passport, visa, vaccination, and other entry requirements for each destination. It is also the responsibility of the user groups to be aware of safety and security conditions at their respective research sites throughout their travel and stay.
All members of user groups must have sufficient travel and health insurance and be clear on their legal responsibilities through their employers. POLARIN does not cover the cost of insurance or any additional expenses arising from unforeseen circumstances such as travel delays, cancellations, customs, shipment, or other logistical issues. POLARIN also assumes no legal responsibility for the health and welfare, including emergency and accident situations, of those awarded access to its infrastructures.
By applying for access through POLARIN, you confirm that you have read and accepted these terms and agree with our Data Protection Policy.
12. CODE OF CONDUCT
All users accessing research infrastructures through POLARIN must adhere to the highest standards of respectful and professional conduct. This includes:- Respecting the evaluation process: POLARIN does not tolerate harassment, coercion, or inappropriate behavior toward evaluators or partners.
- Respecting host infrastructures: Follow local rules, safety guidelines, and behave courteously toward all staff.
- Respecting local and Indigenous communities: Engage with cultural sensitivity and only when appropriate or authorized.
- Upholding zero tolerance for harassment: Discrimination, bullying, or abusive conduct in any form will lead to removal from the project and ineligibility for future access.
Applicants who violate this code may be excluded from current and future access. Reports of misconduct can be made confidentially to the POLARIN coordination team or the host infrastructure. You can download here the full version of POLARIN’s Code of Conduct
- Respecting the evaluation process: POLARIN does not tolerate harassment, coercion, or inappropriate behavior toward evaluators or partners.
- Respecting host infrastructures: Follow local rules, safety guidelines, and behave courteously toward all staff.
- Respecting local and Indigenous communities: Engage with cultural sensitivity and only when appropriate or authorized.
- Upholding zero tolerance for harassment: Discrimination, bullying, or abusive conduct in any form will lead to removal from the project and ineligibility for future access.
13. CALL UPDATES
14. COLLABORATION PLATFORM
Join discussion on the Catalyst Platform Are you one of the applicants or considering applying in the 3rd POLARIN Transnational Access Call? If you want to get in touch with other applicants, join the discussion group on the Catalyst platform.- 1. Register on the Calatyst platform with your email address https://polarcatalyst.eu/register
- 2. Go to “Discussions” page that can be found under “Tools” https://polarcatalyst.eu/discussions
- 3. Find the POLARIN discussion group titled “POLARIN-3rd-call” on the left side of the page
- 4. Click on “Subscribe” next to the name of this discussion group (at top of the page), so you get a notification by email whenever there is a new message in this discussion.
- 5. Explore more news and events from the polar research community on the Catalyst website: https://polarcatalyst.eu/
- 1. Register on the Calatyst platform with your email address https://polarcatalyst.eu/register
- 2. Go to “Discussions” page that can be found under “Tools” https://polarcatalyst.eu/discussions
- 3. Find the POLARIN discussion group titled “POLARIN-3rd-call” on the left side of the page
- 4. Click on “Subscribe” next to the name of this discussion group (at top of the page), so you get a notification by email whenever there is a new message in this discussion.
- 5. Explore more news and events from the polar research community on the Catalyst website: https://polarcatalyst.eu/