Iceland Innovation Week
Description of the action and objectives
Green Deal action
Reykjavík City is a key supporter of Innovation Week, offering businesses and entrepreneurs the opportunity to host innovation-related events, lectures, and initiatives with various touch-points. The goal is to increase access to and visibility of innovation across all industries, and businesses and entrepreneurs get opportunities to share important knowledge. The festival also highlights Reykjavík City as an innovation hub, attracting capital, investors, and foreign experts in innovation and green solutions, creating synergy with other projects like Reykjavík Science City.
Implementation period
Planned completion in the first half of 2022
Status report on January 1, 2024
Action completed. Iceland Innovation Week was held May 22-26 and was the largest festival to date. More than 800 people from over 20 countries had festival passes, and more than 70 side events took place. News about the festival was published in both local and international media. A cross-disciplinary working group within the City was established to enhance accessibility and visibility of innovation across the City administration in connection with Iceland Innovation Week. Reykjavík City hosted a conference called Innovation for People, which was one of the best-attended events of the festival. The City had a booth on the Gróska Takeover Day and also held an innovation workshop for City employees that was fully booked.
Older status reports
| Timing | Progress description |
| January 2023 |
In November 2022, the City Executive Council approved that Reykjavík City will sponsor the Iceland Innovation Week with 2.5 million kr. for the next two years (2023 and 2024). In addition, the City will actively participate in the festival and the Nordic Start Up Awards. Beyond financial contribution, the City aims to use the festival as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and promotion of its own innovation projects. |
| July 2022 | Reykjavík City was a major supporter of Innovation Week held May 16-20, 2022. Reykjavík City events included: An event in Tjarnarsalur where the emphasis was on innovation within the City. Two presentations from Reykjavík City were held on Public Sector Innovation Day on the Green Deal and welfare technology. Reykjavík City loaned Hafnarhúsið for a reception related to the Nordic Startup Awards. Hringiða hosted a sustainability event in Tjarnarsalur, and Þórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir opened the Nordic Startup Awards ceremony. In addition, a sea swimming event was held in Nauthólsvík in collaboration with the Department of Sports & Leisure on the last day of the festival. |
Reykjavík City departments:
Related actions
Economic objectives
- 1. Responsible financial management | Green Deal The City's Financial Policy is based on sustainability, stability, predictability, and transparency.
- 2. Dense and mixed development | Green Deal Denser, mixed housing with neighborhood sustainability at its core.
- 3. New employment opportunities of the future | Green Deal Future job opportunities will be based on knowledge, innovation, and sustainability.
- 4. A favorable environment for business and innovation | Green Deal Good land use, diverse economy, and premises for all types of companies of all sizes.