As of 2010, the Secretariat is also in charge of the Abisko Scientific Research Station in sub-arctic Sweden.

In (northern) summer, it charters the icebreaker Oden from the Swedish Maritime Administration for research expeditions to the Arctic Ocean.

[1] As Swedish polar research advanced in the early 1980s, there was a growing need for more funding, coordination and logistic support.

The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat started in 1984 with a budget of 4 million SEK.

That same year, Sweden became an associated member of the Antarctic Treaty System, followed by full membership in 1988.