Fulbright Finland-U.S. Icebreaker Capacity Building Program

The intensive one-week 2026 Fulbright Finland-U.S. Icebreaker Capacity Building Program (Fulbright Finland-U.S. ICECAP) will enable U.S. research institutions working in advanced and emerging technologies related to icebreakers, naval architecture, and other relevant fields of arctic and polar expertise to enter into responsible international collaborations with Finnish counterparts by training staff and university leadership on the state-of-the-art and context of Finnish icebreaker research and technology development, partnership building and intellectual property (IP) protection issues. The program will jointly explore the geopolitical and security frameworks, policy and government in the Arctic, biodiversity and ecosystems, and technological innovations in the Arctic context.

Additionally, the program will incorporate best practices and guidance informed by U.S. and Finnish policy frameworks. By equipping participants with practical tools to implement strong partnerships and manage U.S.-Finnish collaborative grants, the program will help institutions identify collaboration opportunities and build capacity for increased U.S.-Finnish science and technology development for icebreakers and their use in Arctic environments. 

The program starts with a two-day workshop on research and technology collaboration between Finland and the United States, comprising policymakers, administrators, researchers, and technology transfer officers working in icebreaker related research and technology fields.  Following the workshop, there will be two to three days of meetings and discussions between Finnish and U.S. participants to learn about and identify opportunities for joint icebreaker research. 

To ensure mutual learning and knowledge exchange U.S. participants are expected to actively present on their related research and broader institutional context and collaborative interests.

Program objectives   

• Increase U.S. and Finnish universities' and industry representatives’ ice breaker enabling science and technology capacity, understanding of relevant ecosystems and contexts, practical skills, and experience necessary for them to accelerate U.S. and Finnish ice breaker and enabling technology.                
• Deepen field-specific U.S.-Finnish university and industry partnerships through expert briefings, workshops, and immersive site visits. 
• Support partnership building and research collaboration by engaging governmental science agencies and other key stakeholder groups (including from the Nordic countries), and through grant opportunities and alumni engagement.

Program partners

The Fulbright Finland-U.S. ICECAP program is funded by the Fulbright Finland Foundation with support from the U.S. State Department. The Fulbright Finland Foundation administers the program in collaboration with The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). The program is designed and implemented in collaboration with the Finnish-American Research & Innovation Accelerator (FARIA), Aalto University, and University of Helsinki, and in consultation with the Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) network / Science Counselor at the Embassy of Finland, Washington, D.C.

Tentative program

Participants

• The program participants are experts from U.S. research institutions and organizations working in advanced and emerging technologies related to icebreakers, naval architecture, and other relevant fields of arctic and polar expertise.
• The participants have an interest in advancing long-term Finnish-U.S. collaboration and engagement in the Fulbright Finland Foundation’s network. 

Read the biographies of the program participants.

Information on partners

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, non-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. With the purpose of promoting a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, the Foundation collaborates with a range of government, foundation, university and corporate partners on both sides of the Atlantic to design and manage study and research scholarships, capacity building and leadership development programs, as well as internationalization services. A key strength of the Foundation is the consistent strategic engagement of the alumni. Over 6 400 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals have received a grant from the Fulbright Finland Foundation since the inception of its programs in 1949 and the Foundation runs an active and rapidly growing alumni network in both countries.

The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) supports over 9,000 members from across 49 countries, advancing research administration through education. NCURA implements sponsored projects, including Greece, Nigeria, Jordan, and EU, focusing on research security and research administration capacity building. NCURA’s Global Initiatives seeks to be the foremost provider of professional development, knowledge, and leadership in the global research administration and research management community.  We serve all NCURA members in the International Region and U.S. who are involved in global research administration by providing a global network of organizations and institutions for support and partnerships. Our extended networks of research administrators from all over the world, including our close relations with many embassies in DC, serve as vital starting points to further international research collaborations. NCURA is also the only national contact point (NCP) for the European Commission Horizon Europe program for legal and financial questions. We offer professional development opportunities, such as our Global Fellowship, to build the requisite infrastructure for the global research enterprise. In addition, Global Initiatives aims to advance the overall NCURA mission by promoting research administration as a career worldwide.

The Finnish-American Research & Innovation Accelerator (FARIA) serves as a strategic network and funding mechanism, which enables concerted and joint action of higher education institutions and other relevant stakeholders in Finland and the US. The network focuses on research areas where Finnish academics are amongst the leading researchers in the world. The main goal of FARIA is to initiate joint RDI projects aimed at cutting-edge research and innovation together with American partners. The FARIA network is coordinated by Aalto University and University of Helsinki.