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Iceland Innovation Week
Reykjavík City is a key sponsor of Iceland Innovation Week, offering businesses and entrepreneurs the opportunity to host innovation-related events, lectures, and initiatives with various touchpoints.
Innovation in Reykjavík
Innovation is not a feather in someone’s cap. It is part of Reykjavík’s self-image and shapes the way people live and work in the City approach our tasks. We are going to create a fertile ground for new ideas to flourish.
Innovation ecosystem
What ecosystem does innovation thrive in?
We were at the Greenhouse on Lækjartorg May 15-16. During this time, Reykjavík City hosted an open house with mini-events that focused on innovation at the City.
What is needed to ensure fertile ground for creative projects? How do we nurture innovation that enhances the quality of life for residents now and in the future? At our diverse program, you can explore various facets of innovation in Reykjavík and how it can grow and prosper.
The program at Lækjartorg was a part of Iceland Innovation Week, with Reykjavík City as a proud sponsor of the festival.
Thank you for coming!
Iceland Innovation Week 2024
The Greenhouse on Lækjartorg
Þórdís Þórhallsdóttir, City Council President and business, tourism & innovation chair at Reykjavík City, and Hrólfur Jónsson, Deputy Manager of Science Park, introduced and discussed these issues, including the Science Village in Vatnsmýri.
Alexandra Briem, City Councilor and Chair of the Digital Council, discussed how Reykjavík City supports the innovation environment and promotes innovation at the City. She also talked about the benefits achieved through the digital transformation.
The Greenhouse on Lækjartorg
The new research and innovation building at Reykjavík University will revolutionize the school's facilities for teaching, research, and innovation. This building is the first of its kind in Iceland, where imagination can run free.
We learned about the innovation accelerator Startup Social and how its growth space encourages innovation that addresses contemporary challenges. The startup Memmm also introduced the Open Preschool and share their experience from Startup Social.
Innovation in Reykjavík
The startup SeaGrowth presented their idea of producing seafood products from fish cells, known as cultured fish, and share their experience from Hringiða.
My Neighborhood is a participatory democracy project where residents vote on ideas for new developments. Guðný Bára Jónsdóttir, Project Manager introduced the project with Franz Friðriksson, contractor for the mountain bike trail in Úlfarsfell.
Innovation in Reykjavík
Innovation ecosystem
Innovation ecosystem
The Greenhouse Program
Below is the schedule for Reykjavík City at The Greenhouse on Lækjartorg on May 15 and 16. The open house took place on the square both days, with hot drinks on offer.
Wednesday, May 15
Open house and hot drinks at The Greenhouse on Lækjartorg from 10am-4pm
12pm-12:30pm Internal Innovation - open meeting of the Digital Council
Alexandra Briem, City Councilor and Chair of the Digital Council, will discuss how Reykjavík City supports the innovation environment and promotes internal innovation at the City. She will also talk about the benefits achieved through the City's digital transformation and the opportunities ahead.
Watch a presentation from the Digital Council.
12:30pm-1pm Chat with politicians
What's on your mind? Residents will have the chance to discuss innovation and the City's digital issues with City Councilors at an open meeting of the Digital Council.
Watch discussions hosted by the Digital Council.
1pm-1:30pm Hringiða - Innovation towards a stronger circular economy
We'll be introduced to the innovation accelerator Hringiða, aimed at startups focusing on the circular economy in some form. The startup SeaGrowth will also present their idea of producing seafood products from fish cells, known as cultured fish, and share their experience from Hringiða.
Watch a presentation from Hringiða.
Watch a presentation from Sea Growth.
1:30pm-1:55pm Startup Social - Innovation for society
We'll learn about the innovation accelerator Startup Social (I. Snjallræði) and how its growth space encourages innovation that addresses contemporary challenges. The startup Memmm will also introduce the Open Preschool and share their experience from Startup Social.
Watch a presentation from Startup Social.
Watch a presentation from Memmm.
2pm-2:30pm Urban nature for welfare - a cooperative project of 11 cities
GreenIn Cities is a new European Horizon project focusing on the co-creation and development of green spaces in collaboration with residents. Reykjavík's participation involves developing green areas in Breiðholt in close cooperation with FB (Breiðholt Junior College) and residents of Breiðholt. A presentation will be given by Fab Lab and South Center, partners in the project.
Watch a presentation from GreenIn Cities.
3pm-3:30pm How to make an impact in Reykjavík
My Neighborhood is a participatory democracy project where residents vote on ideas for new developments. Guðný Bára Jónsdóttir, Project Manager for My Neighborhood, will introduce the project with Franz Friðriksson, the contractor for the mountain bike trail in Úlfarsfell. Franz will share his experience - from idea to execution.
Watch a presentation from My Neighborhood.
Thursday, May 16
Open house and hot drinks at Lækjartorg from 10am-4pm
12pm-12:30pm Urban planning and innovation
How can urban planning and cluster formation support and promote innovation? Þórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir, President of City Council and chair of business, tourism, and innovation at Reykjavík City, and Hrólfur Jónsson, Deputy Manager of Science Park (I. Vísindagarðar), will introduce and discuss these issues, including Science Village (I. Vísindaþorpið) in Vatnsmýri and cluster formation.
Watch a presentation from Reykjavík City and Science City.
1pm-1:30pm Fab Lab workshop and the startup SideWind
At Fab Lab, no entrepreneur is too young or old, and no idea too small or large. The Fab Lab focuses on enhancing innovation in education, supporting companies' product development, and nurturing new ideas across all community levels. We'll get a closer look at Fab Lab's operations and the services available to everyone, as well as getting insights into the startup SideWind, which has utilized Fab Lab's facilities in its development process.
Watch a presentation from Fab Lab.
2pm-2:30pm New research and innovation building at Reykjavík University
The new research and innovation building at Reykjavík University will revolutionize the school's facilities for teaching, research, and innovation. This first-of-its-kind building in Iceland will unleash creative potential and provide access to high-tech equipment for research that could lead to significant value creation and advancement. Ólafur Eysteinn Sigurjónsson, Dean of the School of Technology at Reykjavík University, will provide more detailed information on these exciting plans.
Watch a presentation from Reykjavík University.
3pm-3:30pm Community Square - what does the future library look like?
The library as we know it is evolving. How do we shape the future library as a place where residents want to come, participate in the community, and contribute to development and innovation. You're invited to tea with Martyna Daniel and Dögg Sigmarsdóttir who will discuss innovation projects like Pikknikk, Stofan | A Public Living Room, and LoveSpeak (I. Kærleiksorðræða).
Watch a presentation from the Reykjavík City Library.
Innovation Everywhere
We view innovation as the result of imaginative ideas implemented by entrepreneurial people all over Reykjavík.
Innovation tends to be discussed in the context of high-tech companies. But innovation is also the driver in a wide range of activities relating to culture, artistic creation, the third sector, public administration, and various service providers.
Innovation is not a feather in someone’s cap. It is part of Reykjavík’s self-image and shapes the way people live and work in the City approach our tasks. We are going to create a fertile ground for new ideas to flourish.
Innovation is a common theme throughout the Reykjavík Economic and Innovation Policy. This is because innovation is a prerequisite for value creation in all areas of society and makes us better prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
Why Innovation Week?
Reykjavík City's involvement in Innovation Week aims to increase access and visibility of innovation across industries and companies, providing entrepreneurs with opportunities to share valuable 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.
Where can I find out more?
The project steering group consists of staff from the Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer, Dept. of Culture & Sports, Dept. of Service & Innovation, Dept. of Welfare, and Dept. of Education & Youth.
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Want to know more or send a comment? Send an email to athafnaborgin@reykjavik.is