Thule Institute includes four operational units that have specialized in the research fields of the Institute. Besides of the operational units, the office of the Centre for Environment and Energy, CEE is situated at the Institute.

Thule Institute focuses on the multidisciplinary research and doctoral education in the field of environmental and northern issues and natural resources.

• Centre for Arctic Medicine focuses on studying health and well-being of people in circumpolar areas.

• NorNet- Northern Environmental Research Network is a co-operative network which brings together the University of Oulu and state research institutes in Northern Finland. The coordination unit of the network operates at the Thule Institute.

• NorTech Oulu coordinates and conducts international research, educational and development activities at the Thule Institute and the University of Oulu.

• Oulanka Research Station is a regional unit in Northeastern Finland. The station offers a research facility for multidisciplinary environmental research and education. The main research areas are ecosystem and biodiversity research, geographic processes, tourism-related issues and long-term monitoring of the environment.

• Innovation centre CEE - Centre for Environment and Energy promotes cooperation between research and business and commercializes new innavations.