The Third International Forum of Associations and Consortiums of the Northern Territories (FACNT-2025), dedicated to the sustainable development of the Arctic, started at Tomsk State University on Monday. This is reported by Interfax.

FACNT-2025 is aimed at maintaining and encouraging an effective dialogue between all parties operating in the northern territories of the country, including the authorities, business and the population. The forum events will be held from April 21 to 25 at the venues of its organizer - Tomsk State University (TSU).

In his welcoming speech, TSU Rector Eduard Galazhinsky said that the forum is a place where consortiums and associations engaged in the study of the Arctic and other northern regions can agree on research agendas, as well as generate new ideas for joint projects.

"We see what discussions are flaring up today around the Arctic region. And indeed, by combining the efforts of researchers, politicians, and business, we can establish effective interaction. TSU has always supported and considered research on climate and global Earth change a priority for itself. On the Tomsk land, we will be able to constructively enter new research and practical horizons," Galazhinsky said.

In total, four tracks are planned within the framework of the forum - "Uniting Potential", "Science of the Future", "Infrastructure, Networks, Interaction" and "Northern Challenge: Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Development". Within the framework of these tracks, representatives of the consortiums will discuss the prospects, directions and mechanisms of cooperation between the Arctic and non-Arctic regions, the prospects for the development of the Russian carbon market, environmental changes in the Siberian macroregion, as well as the development and use of unmanned systems to solve specific problems of industrial and social development of the northern territories.

Representatives of the consortiums "Global Earth Change: Climate, Ecology, Quality of Life GEC", National Arctic Science and Education Consortium NANOK, North European Open Science and Education Consortium, Russian-Asian Consortium for Arctic Research RACAR, Siberian Environmental Change Network (SecNET), World Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Arctic, Northern Sea Route Association take part in FACNT-2025.

Forum of Associations and Consortiums of the Northern Territories has been held at TSU since 2023 as part of the Priority 2030 program, FACNT was included in the plan of main events in connection with Russia's chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021-2023.

Read more: https://www.interfax-russia.ru/siberia/news/konsorciumy-severnyh-territoriy-obsudyat-razvitie-arktiki-na-forume-v-tomske