New report provides the first comprehensive overview of research in Greenland
August 19, 2026|Written by Arctic Hub
Written by Arctic Hub
Arctic Hub is publishing a new report that, through a mapping of ten years of research in Greenland, documents the enormous international research interest in Greenland.
Who is conducting research in Greenland? What are they researching? Where does the research take place, and who do researchers collaborate with?
Until now, there has been no comprehensive answer to these important questions. But Arctic Hub is now providing the first comprehensive overview of research in Greenland.
Arctic Hub’s new report maps research activity from 2015 to 2024 and was prepared in collaboration with the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy at Aarhus University.
The report concludes that Greenland occupies a unique position in international research. At the same time, it highlights significant differences between research conducted in collaboration with Greenlandic researchers and research carried out without local partners.
Greenland is a research laboratory for the entire world
The report establishes that Greenland is to a large extent an international research laboratory, particularly within climate and environmental research.
During the period, approximately 1,700 to 1,800 research publications on Greenland were published each year. This corresponds to around 28 research articles per 1,000 inhabitants, which may well make Greenland the country in the world with the highest number of research articles per capita.
“Greenland has a completely unique position in international research. The enormous number of researchers and research publications says something about the extent of the world’s interest in Greenland. But the report also shows that we need to take a closer look at how all this research can best create value for Greenland,” says Avijâja Rosing-Olsen, Head of Secretariat at Arctic Hub.
At the same time, the report shows that a large proportion of research in Greenland is not conducted in collaboration with local researchers or research institutions. On average, around 10 percent of research publications have a Greenlandic collaborator.
Research with Greenland is about something different from research about Greenland
One of the report’s key conclusions is that there is a clear difference in what research focuses on depending on whether it is conducted with or without a Greenlandic partner.
Research without Greenlandic partners focuses particularly on ice, climate and the environment. When research is conducted in collaboration with Greenlandic researchers or institutions, health, society and local life feature much more prominently.
“It is not necessarily a problem that so much research focuses on climate, ice and the environment. These are areas in which Greenland has enormous international significance. But the report shows that there is an imbalance in the overall research landscape. It therefore provides us with an important basis for further discussion,” says Avijâja Rosing-Olsen.
US research in Greenland has declined significantly
The report also highlights a significant development in US research activity.
The number of US research publications on Greenland fell by 23 percent from 2015 to 2024. The United States was the country that published the most research articles on Greenland from 2015 to 2023, but in 2024, it was overtaken by Canada.
The decline is particularly evident from 2021 onwards and is especially pronounced within the physical sciences. Here, the number of publications related to climate change has fallen by 32 percent.
Facts about Arctic Hub and the report
Arctic Hub is the central hub for Greenland’s local and international research community. The organisation was established in 2021 through a collaboration between Greenland and Denmark. Its secretariat is based in Nuuk.
The report GreenlandResearch maps research activity during the period 2015–2024. The report was prepared by the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy at Aarhus University on behalf of Arctic Hub.
The report will be launched on 19 August 2026 at the Greenland National Library, at a major public event.
Aiming to create a common basis for the conversation about research
Arctic Hub will launch the report at a major public event in Nuuk on 19 August, where the research community, decision-makers and the public are invited to participate in a joint dialogue about what research means for Greenland.
“Arctic Hub was established, among other reasons, because there was a lack of a comprehensive overview of research in Greenland. We are therefore proud to now be able to provide the overview that has been requested for so long. We hope the report can help strengthen the democratic conversation about the role of research in Greenland and give everyone a common basis for discussion,” says Avijâja Rosing-Olsen.
