The NK was established by the DFG in 1992 and plans and coordinates the polar activities of German universities, together with the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) and the relevant federal institutions. It is also an important forum for discussing national and international polar research and infrastructure issues. Examples include environmental protection in the Arctic, funding for university groups to conduct research on the research icebreaker POLARSTERN – and, currently, the impact of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine on national and international research.

The NK's responsibilities also include appointing delegates to the international Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). In 2022, more than 70 German scientists have served on SCAR and IASC, the list can be found on the NK website. The next annual meeting of the NK with about 60 participants will take place on June 19 to 20, 2023 at the Haus der Wissenschaft in Bremen.