New Zealand and Switzerland team up for Antarctic science
Antarctica New Zealand and the Swiss Polar Institute have officialised their cooperation in polar science.
The two programmes signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) in Auckland on Monday 8 July, which will facilitate the development of joint research projects in Antarctica.
Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Prof Jordy Hendrikx was in Auckland for the signing, along with Prof Daniel Farinotti from the Swiss Polar Institute’s Science and Technology Advisory Board.
They were joined by Ambassador of Switzerland to New Zealand H.E. Viktor Vavricka, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti, and Swiss State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation Martina Hirayama.
Antarctica plays a key role in regulating the Earth’s climate and provides unique, pristine conditions for scientific field work.
This agreement between the two programmes marks a significant advancement in collaborative research on a bilateral level. It also fosters synergies in view of the upcoming international Antarctic initiatives, such as Antarctica InSync and the International Polar Year 2032.
The MoA will facilitate access to research infrastructure, promote and share expertise through joint academic and scientific activities, as well as enable the exchange of personnel, data, and other resources of common interest.
Through this joint approach, the Swiss Polar Institute and Antarctica New Zealand will seek to support their scientific communities in navigating the practical, logistical, and ethical complexities of research in Antarctica, with an emphasis on early-career researchers where possible.
This agreement bolsters New Zealand's international Antarctic science partnerships.
Last year, Antarctica New Zealand signed an MoA with Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute to enhance scientific cooperation on the ice. In May, Antarctica New Zealand and Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed an MoA marking the start of future collaborations in Antarctic research.
Earlier this year, Antarctica New Zealand received Strategic Catalyst funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to advance joint research with the United States.
