OSLO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian government on Tuesday established a new research office in Svalbard, in a move aimed at strengthening Norwegian management of research activities and facilitating international cooperation in the Arctic archipelago.
Located in Longyearbyen, Svalbard's capital, the new research office will help facilitate high-quality research, serve as a contact point and resource for research communities, coordinate activities to reduce the overall environmental impact, and prepare an annual report, according to a government release.
Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education Sigrun Aasland said Svalbard is important to the world's collective knowledge of the Arctic, adding that Norway has facilitated international research cooperation there for more than 60 years and will continue to do so despite a more challenging security environment.
The Norwegian government also launched an updated strategy for research and higher education in Svalbard, which provides clearer guidance for research and educational activities and is intended to serve as a stronger tool for Norwegian research management there, according to the release.
