Xplorer’s home is at LUT University, which in 2019 was invited as the Finnish flagship university for the competence centre. The centre works under the auspices of UNESCO, the World’s Education, Science and Culture Organization, and is headed by the Saint Petersburg Mining University. Category 2 centres and institutes under the auspices of UNESCO are a global network of institutions of excellence. They promote the implementation of UNESCO’s strategic priorities, programs and global development agendas through international and regional cooperation, research, knowledge production, policy advice and capacity development. Category 2 institutes are independent centres, but privileged partners of UNESCO and an integral part of the Organization’s Comprehensive Partnership Strategy.