Sweden and US sign polar deal

Sweden and the United States have signed an agreement to increase joint efforts in polar and climate research, the Swedish government has announced.

The deal was signed during Swedish research minister Helene Hellmark Knutsson’s visit to Washington this week. The agreement sets out plans for two expeditions to the Arctic this summer, and increased cooperation on polar and climate research, the Swedish government said in a statement. This will be followed by another expedition in summer 2017, the government said.

“By working together we will get more value for money. The Swedish icebreaker Oden can perform more measurements and researchers can form new partnerships when Oden is used more often by different countries,” said Hellmark Knutsson. “It will promote research, the climate and create jobs.”