Under the regulatory co-management framework that was created by the Nunavut Agreement, most land- and water-based research activities in Nunavut are subject to review or screening by co-management bodies.

Inuit organizations also control access to large areas of Inuit-owned lands in Nunavut and have a greater say in how, where, and when research projects can take place on their lands and in areas subject to Inuit impact and benefits agreements (e.g., national and territorial parks, national wildlife areas, bird sanctuaries).

Research requires specialized facilities and equipment, accommodation, food, travel, and other products and services. An excellent example of the economic impact of research activities is the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. This state-of-the-art facility was designed to facilitate innovation in Arctic science and technology, to welcome visitors, and to provide researchers with the accommodation and services they need. In the coming decades local businesses and the hamlet of Cambridge Bay stand to benefit from research activities here. Polar Knowledge Canada, which operates the site, has 26 staff in Cambridge Bay, 39 staff in Ottawa, and three staff in other locations. About one-third of CHARS staff are Inuit.