Research and urban development

Teikning af tækjum, manneskju, lunda og blokkum.

Reykjavík City participates in several international research projects focused on diverse knowledge acquisition and information dissemination that contribute to progressive urban development. Reykjavík also participates in or supports various innovation projects and collaborations. Here is an overview of the key projects.

International collaboration on research and urban development

Reykjavík aims to create a fertile channel where diverse currents converge, attracting imaginative and energetic people - as stated in Reykjavík's new Economic & Innovation Policy.


Reykjavík City's Participation in International Research and Innovation Projects was approved by the Presidium of Reykjavík on June 7, 2024. All the specialized councils of the City reviewed the plan. The action plan aims to strengthen Reykjavík City's position in domestic and international cooperation. It seeks to maximize benefits through knowledge acquisition and innovation. The City developed the action plan in spring 2024. It responds to an assessment by the University of Iceland's Institute of Public Administration and Politics on the City's experience in fully funded multinational research projects.

International research and innovation projects: aron@reykjavik.is 

SPARCS

SPARCS – is a research project in the field of energy transition, sustainability, and carbon neutrality. It is a collaborative effort of thirty parties assisting European cities in becoming sustainable, eco-friendly, and carbon-neutral communities. SPARCS stands for Sustainable energy-Positive and zero-cARbon CommunitieS, funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 framework program.

AMIGOS

AMIGOS – aims at improving the safety and experience of different road users around transport hubs. Changes around Hlemmur and the surrounding area in the coming years will be the main focus of Reykjavík's contribution to the project. AMIGOS stands for 'Active Mobility Innovations for Green and safe city sOlutionS', funded by the EU's Horizon Europe framework program.

IMPULSE

IMPULSE – the research project is about the design and testing of facial recognition in electronic authentication for those who prefer this solution to the more common electronic IDs in use today. IMPULSE stands for Identity Management in PUbLic SErvices, funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 framework program.

GreenIn Cities

GreenIn Cities – a new project launching January 1, 2024. The four-year project involves Reykjavík City in co-creating and developing green spaces in Breiðholt – edible and ornamental gardens – with local residents. Fab Lab Reykjavík, Breiðholt Comprehensive Junior College, and Reykjavík City will collaborate on the development, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe framework program.

NetZeroCities (NZC)

The NetZeroCities program supports the journey of European cities towards carbon neutrality and smartification by 2030. The initiative is based on extensive collaboration across cities with companies, institutions, municipalities, government agencies, associations, and residents. Among other things, the cities' collaboration will be formalized with a special Climate City Agreement, tailored to each city. NZC also manages the so-called 'Pilot City' and 'Twin City' programs and supports the selected projects.

"Pilot City" has been translated to Icelandic as “Tilraunaborg” and "Twin City" as “Tengiborg”.

NZC - Twin City

Reykjavík is a Twin City under the NZC "Twin City" program, paired with Lahti, Finland, which serves as a Pilot City. Formal collaboration between Reykjavík and Lahti is organized by NZC, supporting all interactions and consultations until the project concludes in May 2025. The collaboration between the cities focuses on knowledge sharing and developing solutions for sustainable transportation and effective methods to best support the residents' changed travel modes.

 

Innovation collaboration and accelerators

Reykjavík fosters innovation in Reykjavík, such as incubators, cluster cooperation, accelerators, and knowledge centers in the field of green innovation. Here you can see manifestations of that economic development:

 

Workshops and innovator hubs

 

Cluster collaboration

 

Innovation projects and accelerators

Reykjavík City participates in Klak – Icelandic Startups, which assists innovators in bringing ideas to fruition and potential investment The City supports various accelerators and events, such as Hringiða and The Golden Egg.

 

Reykjavík City is a backer of Startup Social, established by Höfði Peace Centre in 2018. Startup Social is a 16-week incubator that supports powerful teams passionate about solving contemporary challenges and upholding the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Iceland Innovation Week

Iceland Innovation Week has been establishing itself as an internationally recognized platform.

Græna planið rannsóknir

Knowledge hubs and development sites

In Reykjavík, certain areas receive special attention as interesting knowledge hubs and development sites.

 

Within these knowledge hubs, there is collaboration with operational and stakeholder interested parties in the area. Efforts are underway to advance these knowledge hubs:

  • Reykjavík Science City
  • City center
  • Gufunes – Creative Village

 

Creative City - in 2020, the City offered temporary housing for creative industries and community projects at three locations: in Gufunes, Skerjafjörður and Bryggjuhverfi.

 

On larger development sites, foundational work is being done and new parties are invited to join interesting areas:

  • Álfsnes
  • Hólmsheiði
  • Esjumelar

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Would you like more information?

Contact the business and urban development team - we work in the mayor and chief executive's office - view name list and phone numbers or email us at athafnaborgin@reykjavik.is or aron@reykjavik.is (International Research and Innovation Projects)