«Business Iceland» med stor næringsdelegasjon til Norge: Statsbesøk til Norge av Islands president Halla Tómasdóttir 8.–10. april

Besøket gjennomføres i Oslo og Trondheim i perioden tirsdag 8.– torsdag 10. april 2025. Tirsdag og onsdag i Oslo og torsdag i Trondheim.

- Vi har et følge med hele 40 selskaper og organisasjoner fra Island som følger president Halla Tómasdóttir, og hennes ektemann Björn Skúlason, på statsbesøk til Norge 8.-10. april. Vi gleder oss stort, sier Pétur Th. Óskarsson som er adm. direktør for Business Iceland.

Business Iceland, Íslandsstofa, er en islandsk organisasjon som arbeider for å fremme islandsk næringsliv, eksport og investeringer internasjonalt. Business Iceland støtter islandske selskaper i å utvide sine markeder, tiltrekke utenlandske investeringer og styrke Islands omdømme globalt.

• Her ser du link til Det Norske Kongehus sin informasjonsside om besøket: LINK.

• Her ser du link til Innovasjon Norge sin informasjonsside om besøket: LINK

For å møte noen av de deltakende selskapene fra Island, som besøker Norge i forbindelse med statsbesøket, finner pressen kontaktdetaljer nedenfor.

Følgende bedrifter deltar i næringslivsdelegasjonen:

Accrona, Acton Capital AS, Alda, Ankeri Solutions, Ankra ehf., Arion banki, Arntzen de Besche, Bara tala ehf., Business Iceland, Carbfix, Climeworks Mammoth ehf., EFLA AS, Eimskip Group / Norway, FnF Investments / Kerecis, GeoSalmo, Gleipnir Innovation Center West Iceland, Grænvangur, GreenFish, Hefring ehf., Icelanad Fisheries, Iceland Ocean Cluster, Kerecis, Landsvirkjun, Lýsi hf., Nordic Ignite, Nordic Office of Architecture ehf, Orkusalan, Pipar\TBWA, Reykjavik Energy, Rio Tinto á Íslandi, Sea Growth, Sjávarsýn ehf., Veitur ohf, Vélfag ehf. og Verkís.

Først noen eksempel på selskaper som besøker Norge (Se mer faktainformasjon om alle selskaper lenger ned i pressemeldingen).


Eksempel 1: Carbfix - Carbfix har som mål å gi et betydelig bidrag til klimaforbedring gjennom selskapets sikre og velprøvde teknologi for karbonmineralisering. Carbfix tilbyr kostnadseffektive, målbare og permanente løsninger for karbonhåndtering, basert på flere tiår med vitenskapelig og operasjonell erfaring. www.carbfix.com. Kontakt: Edda Aradóttir, administrerende direktør. Se mer informasjon lenger ned i pressemeldingen.

Eksempel 2: Climeworks Mammoth - Climeworks er et banebrytende selskap som spesialiserer seg på Direct Air Capture (DAC)-teknologi for å fjerne CO₂ fra atmosfæren. Selskapet ble grunnlagt i Sveits og driver Mammoth og Orca, verdens største DAC-anlegg, på Island. Ved å bruke fornybar geotermisk energi samarbeider Climeworks med Carbfix for permanent lagring av CO₂ under bakken.

Climeworks gjør det mulig for bedrifter og enkeltpersoner å nå netto-null-mål gjennom høykvalitets karbonfjerning. Ved å skalere sin teknologi tilbyr Climeworks en kritisk klimaløsning for en bærekraftig og karbonnøytral fremtid. www.climeworks.com. Kontakt: Sara Lind Gudbergsdóttir, landdirektør.

Eksempel 3: Kerecis - Kerecis utvikler intakt fiskeskinnprodukter for vevsregenerasjon og beskyttelse. Det patenterte og skånsomt bearbeidede fiskeskinnet støtter naturlig heling og bevarer en menneskelignende struktur. Kerecis er den eneste globale produsenten av medisinske produkter basert på intakt fiskeskinn, og teknologien er klinisk bevist å fremskynde sårheling. Nå som en del av Coloplast, bruker Kerecis bærekraftig fanget islandsk fisk og fornybar energi. 

www.kerecis.com. Kontakt: Gudmundur Fertram Sigurjónsson, grunnlegger og administrerende direktør.

Eksempel 4: Sea Growth - Sea Growth er en oppstartsbedrift som utvikler bærekraftig cellekultivert fisk, med utgangspunkt i Islands rene energi og ekspertise innen sjømat. Med fokus på kostnadseffektiv produksjon og ingredienser av høy kvalitet, samarbeider vi med ledende aktører i industrien og forskningsmiljøer for å skape innovative og miljøvennlige alternativer til dagens sjømatprodukter. www.seagrowth.bio. Kontakt: Birgitta Ásgrímsdóttir, administrerende direktør

Eksempel 5: Bara tala - Bara tala er en digital språklæringsløsning som hjelper innvandrere med å tilegne seg arbeidsrelaterte språkkunnskaper gjennom interaktiv taletrening. Ved hjelp av kunstig intelligens og språkteknologi bidrar plattformen til integrering ved å gjøre språkopplæring tilgjengelig på arbeidsplasser. Løsningen er i utstrakt bruk blant bedrifter, kommuner og institusjoner over hele Island. www.baratala.is. Kontakt: Jón Gunnar Thórdarson, administrerende direktør.

Eksempel 6: Alda - Alda er en innovativ plattform som fremmer inkluderende arbeidskultur gjennom spillifisert mikrolæring, datadrevne innsikter og AI-baserte handlingsplaner. Anerkjent av Gartner, hjelper Alda organisasjoner med å måle, sammenligne og styrke inkludering – og omgjør innsikt til konkret effekt.

Med over 30 000 brukere i mer enn 50 land gir Alda arbeidsplasser verktøyene de trenger for å skape reell og målbar endring. www.alda.co. Kontakt: Thorey V. Proppé, grunnlegger og administrerende direktør.

Pressekontakt:
Bjørn Richard Johansen, norsk pressekontakt for Business Iceland, Íslandsstofa - i Norge, Geelmuyden Kiese, mobil 47 800 100 og e-post: brj@gknordic.com 

Pétur Th. Óskarsson, adm. direktør, Business Iceland, e-post: +354-863 6075 og e-post:  petur@islandsstofa.is. Facebook |Twitter | Instagram

Sigrídur Dögg Gudmundsdóttir, direktør, eksport og investeringer, Business Iceland, epost: siggadogg@islandsstofa.is og mobil +354-511 4000. Facebook |Twitter | Instagram

Kort om Business Iceland og Island:
Business Iceland, Íslandsstofa, er en organisasjon som jobber for å fremme islandsk næringsliv og eksport, samt styrke Islands internasjonale omdømme. 

​Per 1. januar 2025 hadde Island en befolkning på vel 390.000 innbyggere. Videre har Island et moderne og åpent næringsliv, med sterke sektorer innen fornybar energi, fiskeri, turisme, teknologi og finans. Økonomien er sterkt eksportrettet, og landet er kjent for sin satsing på bærekraft og innovasjon. Island har også en høyt utdannet arbeidsstyrke og et gunstig investeringsklima, noe som gjør det attraktivt for internasjonale selskaper.

Appendix – Litt mer bakgrunn, program i forbindelse med besøket

Noen flere fakta om besøket:

Innovasjon sammen: Vi fremmer blå økonomi og grønn omstilling i Nord-Atlanteren
Statsbesøket av Islands president til Norge tirsdag 8.– torsdag 10. april 2025 vil fungere som en plattform for å styrke det bilaterale samarbeidet innen blå økonomi og grønn omstilling.

Næringslivsdelegasjonen som besøker Norge, i regi av Business Iceland - Íslandsstofa - og Innovasjon Norge, sammen med sentrale bransjepartnere, vil fremme samarbeid om bærekraftig innovasjon i Nord-Atlanteren. Målet med besøket er å styrke båndene mellom landene, identifisere felles prosjekter og fremme investeringsmuligheter som bidrar til en grønnere og mer robust fremtid.

Besøket vektlegger de to nasjonenes felles forpliktelser til bærekraft og økonomisk vekst.
Merk: Det er egne påmeldinger- og akkrediteringsrutiner knyttet til de enkelte arrangement. 

Program for næringslivsdelegasjonen

Dag 1 – Tirsdag 8. april

Ankomst av næringslivsdelegasjonen til Oslo

15:30–17:00 | Arrangement på BI Norwegian Business School
Deltakelse av Islands president og Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprins Haakon.
Tema: Ansvarlig lederskap i en verden full av utfordringer.

18:30 | Felles middag for næringslivsdelegasjonen
Vertskap: Norsk-islandsk handelskammer.

Dag 2 – Onsdag 9. april

09:00–12:00 | Grønn økonomi-forum
Deltakelse av Islands president og Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprins Haakon.
Tema: Norge og Island – Sammen om fremtidens grønne økonomi.

14:00–16:00 | Næringslivsmottakelse om bord på MS Brisen
Innlegg fra Islands finansminister Dadi Már Kristófersson, statssekretær Vegard Wennesland og representanter fra Business Iceland, Norsk-Islandsk handelskammer, Brim Explorer og Arntzen de Besche.

17:30–19:30 | Presidentmottakelse

Dag 3 – Torsdag 10. april

10:00–14:00 | Blå økonomi-forum
Deltakelse av Islands president og Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprins Haakon.
Tema: Island og Norge – Innovasjonsledere innen blå økonomi.
Slutt på programmet for næringslivsdelegasjonen

Arrangement på BI Norwegian Business School

 Tirsdag 8. april | Nydalsveien 37, 0484 Oslo

Tema: Ansvarlig lederskap i en verden full av utfordringer

Deltakere:

• Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprins Haakon

• Islands president 

• Islands utenriksminister Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir

• BI-rektor Karen Spens

• Ragnheidur Magnúsdóttir, grunnlegger av Nordic Ignite

• Dominique Kost, førsteamanuensis ved Institutt for ledelse og organisasjonsatferd, BI

Grønn økonomi-forum

 Onsdag 9. april | Innovasjon Norge, Grev Wedels Plass 9, 0151 Oslo

Tema: Island og Norge – Sammen om fremtidens grønne økonomi

Deltakere:

• Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprins Haakon

• Islands president Halla Tómasdóttir

• Islands utenriksminister Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir

• Norsk minister (TBC)

• Islandske og norske bedrifter og interessenter

Program:

09:00–09:45 Registrering, lett frokost og nettverking
10:00–10:10 Åpningsseremoni: Velkomsthilsen fra Pétur Th. Óskarsson, CEO i Business Iceland. Spesiell tale fra Islands president.
10:10–10:40 Paneldebatt: Den grønne omstillingen som grunnlag for fred
10:40–11:10 Kaffepause og nettverking
11:10–11:45 Paneldebatt: Karbonfangst og -lagring gjennom nordisk samarbeid
11:45–11:50 Avsluttende bemerkninger fra Innovasjon Norge

Blå økonomi-forum

Torsdag 10. april | SINTEF Ocean / NTNU, Otto Nielsens veg 10, 7052 Trondheim

Tema: Norge og Island – Innovasjonsledere innen blå økonomi

Deltakere:

• Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprins Haakon

• Islands president

• Islands finansminister Dadi Már Kristófersson

• Norges forsvarsminister Tore O. Sandvik

• Islandske og norske bedrifter og interessenter

Program:

10:00–10:30 Åpningsseremoni
10:30–10:45 Kaffepause
10:45–11:15 Paneldebatt: 100 % fisk – Innovasjon i marin ressursutnyttelse
11:15–11:45 Paneldebatt: Grønn maritim innovasjon og energieffektivitet
11:45–11:55 Nordisk innovasjonsutstilling: Blå økonomi i praksis
11:55–12:00 Avsluttende bemerkninger
12:00–12:30 Nettverking og lett servering

Mer på linkene:

https://delegations.businessnorway.com/website/13356/

https://www.islandsstofa.is/en/state-visit-to-norway

Kort om selskapene som deltar nedenfor:

Accrona
Accrona provides sustainability and sustainable finance advisory to governments, international organisations, and companies globally. www.accrona.com

Contact: Bjarni Herrera Founder & CEO

Bjarni Herrera is an expert in sustainability and sustainable finance. He has worked on building and managing Icelandic and Norwegian companies acquired by KPMG and S&P Global. He founded and is managing Accrona and Post50 Ventures, focusing on sustainability and sustainable finance. Bjarni lives in both Oslo and Reykjavík—more info on www.bjarniherrera.com

Acton Capital AS
Acton Capital AS https://www.linkedin.com/in/steinunn-kristin-thordardottir/

Contact: Steinunn Kristín Thórdardóttir Founder and chairman

Steinunn Kristin Thordardottir is a seasoned board member in both publicly listed and private companies in Europe. With over 25 years of expertise spanning various industries, she has built a solid track record in banking and management consulting, focusing on developing and executing strategies, leading teams and managing operations on an international scale. 

As an energetic and dynamic professional, Steinunn Kristin is actively engaged in international commerce as advisor, investor and currently serving as Chair of the Norwegian-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce. As a passionate venture capital investor, she concentrates on tech companies and women-led investments, striving to create a positive impact. Steinunn Kristin holds both a bachelor degree and master degree from the United States, with her Master in International Management from Thunderbird, Arizona and thus a fellow Thunderbird Alumni with Halla Tómasdóttir the President of Iceland. 

Alda
Alda is an innovative platform that fosters inclusive workplace culture through gamified micro-learning, data-driven insights, and AI-powered action plans. Recognised by Gartner, Alda helps organisations measure, benchmark, and enhance inclusion, turning insights into impact. With 30,000+ users in 50+ countries, we empower workplaces to drive real, measurable change. www.alda.co

Contact: Thorey V. Proppé Founder & CEO

Thorey V. Proppe is the CEO and founder of Alda, leveraging extensive experience in leadership, strategic consulting, entrepreneurship and public policy. Before founding Alda, Thorey was a partner at Capacent, one of Iceland’s premier consulting firms, where she led pioneering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives for both private and public sector organisations, including the Icelandic Parliament and the National Police Force. She also served as Chief Political Advisor to Iceland’s Minister of the Interior, contributing to national policy development at the highest level.

Her leadership extends across governmental and non-profit sectors. Thorey has been a board member of the Icelandic Export Council, appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, served as chair of the Icelandic Tourism Council, and was a deputy board member for the Icelandic Gender Equality Fund, an initiative managed by the Icelandic Parliament. Additionally, she was Managing Director of the Icelandic Design Center and has professional media experience as a TV presenter and moderator. She is also an experienced public speaker.

In the non-profit arena, Thorey has been a board member of the UN Women National Committee and was the founder and chair of the Icelandic Committee of V-Day, a global movement founded by Eve Ensler and chaired by influential leaders like Pat Mitchell and Jane Fonda, which is committed to ending violence against women.

Thorey has also shared her expertise as a course facilitator at Reykjavik University and the Iceland University of the Arts, covering Strategy, Design Thinking, Campaigns, and Entrepreneurship.

An avid sportswoman and outdoor enthusiast, Thorey has participated in demanding endurance events, such as swimming the English Channel with an all-women relay team and traversing Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, in a self-supported, all-women expedition. 

Thorey holds an MBA from Reykjavik University and the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai, along with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of Iceland.

Ankeri Solutions
Ankeri provides innovative software solutions for the maritime industry. Ankeri‘s cloud-based platform helps shipping companies collect, manage, and analyze fleet data to optimize performance, reduce emissions, and advance sustainability initiatives. Ankeri digitizes ship charter processes, making it more transparent and efficient to share information between maritime stakeholders to create a competitive advantage. https://www.ankeri.net/

Contact: Kristinn Aspelund CEO & Co-founder

Kristinn Aspelund has been working on improving efficiency of the maritime shipping industry through digitalization for more than 20 years. Kristinn is CEO and co-founder of Ankeri Solutions. Before founding Ankeri, Kristinn was a co-founder of Marorka, where he worked for 15 years mostly as sales and marketing director. Kristinn is a board member of University of Iceland Science Park. Kristinn holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from GeorgiaTech and a Bachelor‘s degree in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from the University of Iceland.

Ankra ehf.
Ankra was founded in 2013 by women around sustainability. Ankra has repurposed over 3.000 metric tons of fish skin to create premium supplements and functional foods containing collagen under the brand name Feel Iceland. Ankra co-created the most valuable drink in Iceland, Collab, in collaboration with Ölgerdin. Feel Iceland is the leading collagen supplement brand in Iceland. www.feeliceland.com

Contact: Hrönn Margrét Magnúsdóttir CEO and co-founder

Hrönn Margrét Magnúsdóttir is the CEO and co-founder of Feel Iceland. She has a MSc in International Business. Before she founded Ankra she was working for Össur in the R&D deparment as a global product manager for prosthetic children feet and running feet.

Arion banki
Arion Bank and its subsidiaries provide comprehensive financial services to the people of Iceland. Arion Bank’s role is to help those who want to achieve success in Iceland and the Arctic through smart and reliable financial solutions which enhance financial health and create sustainable value. www.arionbanki.is 

Contact: Birna Hlín Káradóttir Chief Operating Officer

Birna Hlín was born in 1978. She was appointed General Counsel of Arion Bank in September 2019 and joined the Bank’s Executive Committee in June 2020. In September 2023 she was appointed Chief Operating Officer.

From 2016 until joining the Bank, Birna Hlín was a partner and general counsel at Fossar. She was general counsel at Straumur fjárfestingabanki from 2011 to 2015. Birna Hlín worked for Straumur-Burdarás Investment Bank hf. between 2007 and 2011 and was the company’s general counsel from 2009. She has taught financial market law at the Reykjavík University and the University of Iceland. She has served on the boards of directors of several companies and organizations in Iceland and abroad.

Birna Hlín has completed an Advanced Management Program at IESE Business School Barcelona and has a Cand. Jur. degree from the University of Iceland. She is a district court attorney and a licensed securities broker.

Arntzen de Besche
With offices in Oslo, Stavanger and Trondheim the law firm assists Norwegian and international companies, authorities and organizations in simplifying complex transactions, conducting demanding negotiations and resolving disputes. Our team consist of Norway´s leading lawyers in various of fields within corporate law. www.adeb.no

Contact: Margrét Gunnarsdóttir Specialist Counsel 

Margrét Gunnarsdóttir is a board member of the Norwegian-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce. She assists Icelandic and Norwegian clients with regulatory issues related to establishing and operating businesses in Iceland and Norway. 

Her main field of expertice is public procurement, ranging from preparation to execution, including tender work, access to documents, enforcement, and contract follow-up, including price revisions. She also advises clients on EEA law matters and regularly conducts tutorials in EEA law.

Margrét has experience from both the public sector (the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, NFD) and legal practice in Norway and Iceland, as well as from EEA institutions; the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in Brussels and the EFTA Court in Luxembourg.

With her background from NFD during the period 2011–2023, she has specialist expertise in public procurement regulations, extensive experience with legislative and regulatory work, and has worked closely with political leadership and other ministries. Margrét has also worked closely with the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) and contributed to several Norwegian submissions to the EFTA Court. Furthermore, she has represented Norway in EU Commission expert groups and chaired EFTA's working group on procurement.

With her background in both the private and public sectors, Margrét is particularly well-qualified to understand clients' diverse needs and to find effective solutions.

Bara tala ehf.
Bara tala is a digital language learning solution that helps immigrants acquire work-related language skills through interactive speech training. Using AI and language technology, it supports integration by making learning accessible in workplaces. The platform is widely used by companies, municipalities, and institutions across Iceland. www.baratala.is 

Contact: Jón Gunnar Thórdarson CEO

Jón Gunnar Thórdarson is the CEO and founder of Bara tala, a digital platform making work-related language learning easier and more accessible. With a background in EdTech, leadership, and creativity, he has led award-winning projects and is now focused on expanding Icelandic innovation globally.

Carbfix

Carbfix's mission is to significantly contribute to climate recovery through our safe and proven carbon mineralization technology. Carbfix offers cost-effective, measureable and permanent carbon management services, built on decades of scientific and operational experience. www.carbfix.com

Contact: Edda Aradóttir CEO

Dr. Edda Aradóttir is the CEO of Carbfix, an Icelandic company on the mission to significantly contribute through climate recovery the company's safe and proven carbon mineralization technology. Dr. Aradóttir has extensive experience in the fields of renewable energy, carbon capture and storage and carbon removal. Edda further serves on the board of Danish geothermal company Innargi. She was featured on the TIME100 most influential leaders in business for 2023 and Reuter’s 2024 report on Trailblazing Women in Climate. 

Climeworks Mammoth ehf.
Climeworks is a pioneering company specializing in direct air capture (DAC) technology to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Founded in Switzerland, it operates Mammoth and Orca, the world’s largest DAC facility, in Iceland. Using renewable geothermal energy, it partners with Carbfix for permanent underground CO₂ storage. Climeworks enables businesses and individuals to achieve net-zero goals through high-quality carbon removal. By scaling its technology, Climeworks provides a critical climate solution for a sustainable and carbon-neutral future. www.climeworks.com

Contact: Sara Lind Gudbergsdóttir Country Director

Sara Lind Gudbergsdóttir is the Country Director for Iceland at Climeworks, leading the company’s direct air capture (DAC) operations in Iceland, including the Mammoth project, the world’s largest DAC facility. With a strong background in strategic leadership, government relations, and operational management she held leadership roles in the Icelandic government, overseeing major institutional reforms. Passionate about sustainability, Sara Lind works to position Iceland as a global hub for high-integrity carbon removal.

EFLA AS
EFLA provides engineering consulting services with a particular focus on sustainable infrastructure development. The EFLA group is a strong contributor to the energy transition through world class expertise in energy transmission and works directly for several European transmission system operators in providing solutions to develop and strengthen our transmission grids. www.efla.no

Ragnar Jonsson CEO

Ragnar Jónsson is a structural engineer, M.Sc., and has worked for EFLA since 1997, primarily for the energy sector as a transmission line specialist. Ragnar was one of the founding members of EFLA AS in Norway in 2008 and has been the CEO since.

Eimskip Group / Norway
Eimskip operate 58 offices in 20 different countries. Through own offices and a global network of contacts, Eimskip offers door-to-door logistics solutions that connect continents efficiently and quickly. www.eimskip.com

Lara Konradsdottir Managing Director

I joined Eimskip Norway back in 1997 and have worked there ever since. I started as CEO in 2012 and located in the Tromsø office. I have been a board member in Norwegian-Icelandic chamber of commerce for some years now. 

FnF Investments / Kerecis
FnF is an Icelandic family-owned company investing across a range of asset classes, including real estate, private equity, equities, bonds and venture, with focus on MedTech and the Blue economy.

We seek investment opportunities with attractive long-term, risk-adjusted returns and seek to direct our capital towards exceptional ideas, teams and capital partners. www.kerecis.com

Contact: Fanney Hermannsdóttir Managing Director

Educated Biochemist and Biotechnology-Engineer, with early carrier in the pharmaceutical industry with work experience including; MSD, Douglas Pharmaceuticals and the Icelandic Medicines Agency. Member of Iceland's first Unicorn, Kerecis, co-founding team. Investor and philantrophist. 

GeoSalmo
GeoSalmo is building land-based salmon farms in Iceland. It aims to make the best of the location in Iceland by using the latest technology (Primarily from Norway) for a stable production of high-quality salmon. It furthermore aims to build on that technology for further improvements to production and animal welfare. http://www.geosalmo.com

Jens Thordarson CEO

Jens Thordarson is the CEO of GeoSalmo and has served in that position since end of year 2021. He has built up the company from the initial idea into being poised to become a leading land-based salmon farmer globally. Prior to that he worked for Icelandair Group for over 16 years in various leadership roles, including a four year tenure as COO and a six year tenure as CEO of Icelandair Technical Services. He has also been on a number of boards and consulting roles in the aviation, food and energy sectors. Jens is an industrial engineer from the University of Iceland.

Gleipnir Innovation Center West Iceland
Gleipnir is an innovation center in West Iceland focused on food, energy, and the blue economy. It supports research and entrepreneurship in aquaculture, seaweed cultivation, and sustainability to strengthen food and energy security, drive the green transition, and boost regional development. www.gleipnirvest.is

Alexander Schepsky Managing Director

Alexander Schepsky is the managing director of Gleipnir and a serial entrepreneur with a background in molecular biology and international sales. He leads innovation projects in West Iceland, focusing on food and energy security through applied research, cross-sector collaboration, and partnerships in the blue and green economies

Green by Iceland
Green by Iceland is a not-for-profit, public-private partnership between the Icelandic Government and both Iceland’s leading business organizations, as well as companies. It is a platform for cooperation on climate issues and green solutions between Iceland and international counterparts fostering public-private collaboration towards a carbon-neutral future and climate goals. Moreover, Green by Iceland partners with Business Iceland under the brand name Green by Iceland by inspiring and promoting the export of Iceland’s green solutions and renewable energy and fostering international collaboration towards impactful climate action and a greener future for all.www.greenbyiceland.com 

Contact: Nótt Thorberg Director at Green by Iceland

Nótt Thorberg is Director at Green by Iceland a platform that  fosters cooperation on climate issues and green solutions between the public and private sectors, with the goal of supporting Iceland's reputation as a global leader in sustainability. Grænvangur works closely with Business Iceland towards a shared vision to inspire and create a global impact in climate action by promoting the export of Icelandic green solutions, driving knowledge exchange, and fostering international collaboration. With extensive leadership experience in the renewable, airline, transportation, and high-tech innovation sectors, Nótt is a seasoned leader known for her expertise in fostering partnerships and sustainable growth. She is passionate about strategy, transformational change, and stakeholder engagement, and has also dedicated part of her career to philanthropic efforts and is one of the founders of women in fisheries in Iceland. She holds an MSc degree in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde.

GreenFish
GreenFish leverages artificial intelligence, satellites, and one of the world's most powerful supercomputers in the world to provide users with accurate forecasts of fish location, quantity, and quality up to eight days in advance. https://greenfish.is

Contact: Sveinn Sigurdur Jóhannesson Co-Founder of GreenFish

Background in marine innovation and business administration.

Hefring ehf.
Hefring Marine is an Icelandic marine technology company that deploys AI, sensor data and edge computing to empower vessel operators and fleet managers to make informed, data-driven decisions in real time to enhance crew safety, fuel efficiency and vessel sustainability. Vessel operators and managers are under pressure to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, as well as ensuring safety and a sustainable vessel life cycle — all while dealing with crew retention issues, rising fuel costs, and pressure to adopt new technologies. Hefring Marine delivers real-time decision support to optimize existing vessel systems and nudge changes in operator behaviour without the need for costly investments. Additionally, IMAS simplifies monitoring and reporting, helping teams transition to more sustainable practices without sacrificing performance, helping operators can meet regulatory demands, improve efficiency, and reduce workload stress. Hefring Marine is committed to leading the market in intelligent, data-driven solutions for small to medium-sized vessel owners and operators. Our solution generates critical insights from the abundance of hidden data on board marine vessels in a way that is immediately actionable, detailed and engaging. www.hefringmarine.com

Contact: Karl Birgir Björnsson CEO

Karl Birgir Björnsson is CEO and co-founder of Hefring Marine. He started his career at Össur hf., one of Iceland's most successful companies globally, working as a senior financial analyst in corporate development and mergers and acquisitions. From there, he moved on to leading business development and strategy for boat manufacturer, Rafnar ehf., expanding the company's sales and franchising operations to new markets. Hefring Marine was established by Karl Birgir, Björn Jónsson and Prof. Magnús Thór Jónsson, PhD, as a spin-off from research into vessel operations at Rafnar ehf.

Iceland Ocean Cluster

Ocean cluster and incubator. The Iceland Ocean Cluster connects entrepreneurs, businesses, and researchers to drive innovation in the blue economy. Our goal is to maximise value creation from marine resources, fostering collaboration across industries to ensure sustainable and profitable growth. We believe in turning ideas into action, unlocking new opportunities from seafood side streams and ocean-related industries. www.oceancluster.is 

Contact: Thór Sigfússon Founder

Phd in business. Founder of Iceland Eco Business Park and several marine startups.

JBT Marel
We provide software, machinery, systems and solutions that help food processors gain a competitive edge and make the most of cutting edge technology such as digitization, automation and robotics. Driven by a passion for meeting the growing demand for quality protein, we create groundbreaking solutions that benefit the global population. https://marel.com

Contact: Arni Sigurdsson President at JBT Marel

Arni Sigurdsson was appointed President of JBT Marel in January 2025. He took on the CEO role of Marel in December 2023, after leading the company as Interim CEO since 7 November same year. He took over the role of Chief Business Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Marel in November 2022, where he was responsible for Marel's Business Divisions, in addition to the overall business growth and the strategic direction of Marel. Mr. Sigurdsson joined Marel in 2014 as Head of Strategy, became EVP Strategy and Corporate Development in 2015, before transitioning to the role of Chief Strategy Officer & EVP Strategic Business Units in 2020-2022. Before joining Marel, Mr. Sigurdsson worked at AGC Partners and Landsbanki Íslands. Sigurdsson holds a BSc. degree in Industrial Engineering from University of Iceland and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

Kerecis
Kerecis develops intact fish-skin products for tissue regeneration and protection. Its patented, gently processed fish-skin supports natural healing and retains human-like structure. Clinically proven to heal wounds faster, Kerecis is the only global manufacturer of intact fish-skin medical devices. Now part of Coloplast, it uses sustainably sourced Icelandic fish and renewable energy. https://www.kerecis.com

Contact: Gudmundur Fertram Sigurjónsson Founder and CEO

Gudmundur Fertram Sigurjonsson is an entrepreneur & inventor, unicorn founder, technology evangelist & oceans advocate. Having founded and served as CEO of companies in financial technology and renewable energy, he went on to found and is currently the CEO of Kerecis, a biotechnology company that uses fish skin to heal human wounds.

Gudmundur Fertram was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, Entrepreneur of the Year in Iceland in 2015, and Business Person of the Year in Iceland in 2023. In 2024, he received the Export Achievement Award from the President of Iceland. Kerecis received the Icelandic Growth Symposium award for the fastest-growing company in Iceland in 2017 and 2020, as well as the Nordic Scale-Up Award in 2023. Kerecis became Iceland’s first unicorn in 2023 when it sold to Denmark-based Coloplast for $1.3 billion. He has received several innovation awards, including the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards from the President of Iceland in 2015 and 2018. Gudmundur Fertram and the technologies he has developed have been featured in Bloomberg and other media. With over 200 issued and pending patents, he is one of Iceland’s most prolific inventors.

Gudmundur Fertram earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Iceland and an M.Eng. from the Technical University of Denmark.

Landsvirkjun
Landsvirkjun was founded on 1 July 1965 and is fully state owned. Landsvirkjun operates 17 power plants in Iceland concentrated in five main areas of operation. The company generates up to 15 TWh of renewable electricity per year and annual revenue around 600-700m USD. Our vision is a sustainable world, powered by renewable energy.

Our role is to maximize the value of the renewable energy resources it has been entrusted with, in a sustainable and efficient manner. https://www.landsvirkjun.is/

Hördur Arnarson CEO

Hordur Arnarson is the CEO of Landsvirkjun, Iceland´s national power company and producer of 75% of the country’s electricity. With extensive experience in corporate leadership and a focus on improving profitability and growth, Landsvirkjun will continue to strengthen its operations by harnessing renewable energy in a sustainable way. 

In his previous employment, Dr. Arnarson led food processing equipment company Marel from a small Icelandic company to an undisputed market leader in the area with around 4.000 employees, operations in 30 countries. In November 2009 Dr. Arnarson brought his experience to Landsvirkjun which currently puts a great emphasis on innovation and value creation. 

Dr. Arnarson has a PhD. in engineering from the Technical University of Denmark as well as holding a degree in electronic engineering from the University of Iceland.

Contact: Rikardur Rikardsson EVP of Business Development and Innovation

Ríkardur Ríkardsson graduated with a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Denver in 2000, and an MSc in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2002. He completed the PED course at IMD, Lausanne, in 2017.

Ríkardur has worked at Landsvirkjun since 2011, and for the last five years he was executive director of Business Development and Marketing. Ríkardur was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in 2009–2011. In 2006–2009 Ríkardur worked as executive director and advisor for Icelandic finance companies, and in 2002–2006 for an American tech company in Silicon Valley, managing its European business development from London.

Nordic Ignite
Nordic Ignite supports ambitious founders in the Nordics at the earliest stages with capital, knowledge, and network. We are sector agnostic but prefer to invest in sectors where the Nordics have a competitive advantage, deep knowledge, and strong infrastructure. www.nordicignite.com

Contact: Ragnheidur H. Magnúsdóttir Founder and Investor

Over two decades of leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategy both within startup and corporate companies. Former board member of Iceland's Technology development fund and Chair of Technology board for Iceland’s Science and Technology board. Former chair of the board of Creative Industries and chair of the board of Society for IT companies in Iceland. Serves on boards of several startups, providing strategic guidance for growth and sustainability. Active mentor and advocate for entrepreneurs in the Nordics. On board of IceBAN, Iceland’s Business Angels Network. Board member of Faxaflóahafnir, Associated Icelandic Ports. Board member of NOPEF, supporting sustainable business projects in the Nordics. Recognized as one of the 100 most impactful and influential leaders in the Nordic tech scene in 2024.

Contact: Sigurjón Magnússon Partner

Sigurjón has extensive experience in business development and investments. He has served on the boards of numerous startups and, as a co-founder, secured funding, patents, and EU grants.

Nordic Office of Architecture ehf
With 400 architects and studios in Norway, Denmark and Iceland, we are one of the leading architectural practices in the Nordics, with clients and projects around the world. Inspired by the Nordic design tradition of simplicity, functionality and craftsmanship, we design resilient and beautiful spaces, buildings and cities. www.nordicarch.com 

Contact: Halldóra Vífilsdóttir CEO

Halldóra is an architect with a extensive management experience in the field of architecture and construction. She has worked as an architect, project manager, consultant, and in leadership roles as an CEO both in the private and the public sector. Additionally, she has been involved in teaching, served on boards, and contributed to strategic planning.

ON Power
On Power manages two large Geothermal Power stations and one hydropower station.  ON Power produces around 420 MW electricty and around 2500 litres per second of hot water.  ON Power has been the leader in energy transition since 2014 for cars.  On Power serves around 26% of the market with electricity and half of Reykjavík with hot water. www.on.is 

Contact: Árni Hrannar Haraldsson CEO

Árni Hrannar is the CEO of ON Power since May 2023.  He has over 20 years of experience in the Pharma Business Internationally, working from Iceland and Switzerland during those years for multiple companies.

He currently is a board member of Samorka the association of energy and utility companies in Iceland. It represents companies involved in electricity, heating, water, and wastewater services, promoting collaboration and sustainable development in the sector.

Orkusalan
Orkusalan operates six hydropower plants and specializes in providing clean, renewable energy in Iceland. The company focuses on sustainability, reliability, and affordability for both households and businesses. With strong customer service and environmentally friendly energy solutions, we contribute to a greener future. www.orkusalan.is 

Contact: Magnús Kristjánsson CEO

Magnús Kristjánsson is a computer scientist with an MBA in Business Administration and has dedicated his entire 35-year career to the energy sector. He has served as CEO of Orkusalan since nearly its founding in 2007, leading the company for 18 years with a strong focus on sustainable energy utilization, innovation, and market development.

Pipar\TBWA
We are Pipar\TBWA, based in Reykjavík and Oslo, using Disruption®️ to help brands create unique identities. As part of TBWA, we leverage global insights to break through market noise, elevate messages, and drive growth through bold creativity, strategic planning, digital marketing, and award-winning campaigns. www.pipar-tbwa.is

Contact: Valgeir Magnusson Chairman

Valgeir is an advertising and marketing professional, as well as a writer, lyricist, songwriter, columnist, father, and grandfather. Valgeir is the chairman of Pipar\TBWA, The Engine, Ghostlamp, and Fastland. He is the founder and one of the owners of Landnámseggja in Hrísey and chairman of Hrísey Verslun. He is the CEO of SDG\TBWA and Scandinavian Design Group in Norway, a board member of TBWA\Nordic, and vice-chairman of the Norwegian-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce.

Qair Ísland
Qair is an Icelandic renewable energy company with wind and hydro energy plants in operation in Iceland. Qair holds the majority in Háblær which operates wind turbines in Thykkvibaer and Arctic Hydro which is the third largest hydro energy company in Iceland with 12 plants in operation. Qair Ísland is part of Qair Group. https://www.qair.energy 

Contact: Fridjón Thórdarson CEO

25 years of experience in international banking and energy. GXMBA from IE Business School.

Reykjavík Energy

Reykjavík Energy is the parent company of Veitur, (utility), ON Power, Ljósleidarinn (fiber connection) and Carbfix (turning carbon into stone) We support a growing society, homes and business life with innovation in energy, utilities and carbon fixation.  Serving up to 75% of the homes and businesses in Iceland. www.orkuveitan.is

Contact: Sævar Freyr Thráinsson CEO

An executive with broad experience, Sævar was the CEO of Síminn, Iceland‘s leading telecommunications company, 365 media corporation, and, most recently, served as the Mayor of Akranes municipality. Since Akranes is one of the owners of RE, Sævar had a previous role to play in relation to the company where he, for example, supported the progress of Carbfix, and used his experience and background in projects related to Ljósleidarinn (Reykjavík Fibre Network).

Sævar has a cand. oecon in business administration from the University of Iceland with a focus on marketing. He worked at Síminn for 18 years, including seven years as the CEO. He was the CEO of 365 Media for three years before returning to his hometown of Akranes to serve as Mayor in 2017.

Sævar has been either the chairperson or board member of 17 companies in IT, software development, telecommunications, financial technology and banking solutions, pension funds, marine sales and R&D center in Iceland, UK, Sweden, and Denmark. He has also served on the boards of several charitable, social, or business-related associations, such as The Chamber of Commerce, a football club, and a hospital charity foundation to name a few.

Reykjavik Energy
Reykjavik Energy is owned by three municipalities and has been developing district heating in Iceland for almost 100 years. The company's vision and strategy emphasize sustainability, innovation, cooperation and future thinking with the benefit of customers and society. Research and Innovation role focuses on innovation, new energy options, robust resource management, and improved resource utilization with circular thinking and sustainability as guiding principles. https://orkuveitan.is/

Contact: Hera Grímsdóttir Chief of Research and innovation

Hera Grímsdóttir is the CDO of Research and Innovation at Orkuveitan, a position she has held since 2022. She holds a master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on construction and decision-making and an MBA from the University of Reykjavík. Before her current role, Hera served as the Dean of Applied Engineering at Reykjavík University (2018–2022) and was previously the Director of the Construction Department at the Faculty of Technology and Engineering. From 2010 to 2015, she managed international high-tech projects at Össur, a prosthetics manufacturer, and also worked at the engineering firm EFLA in both the energy and construction departments. Hera has extensive experience in management and project management for complex projects.

Rio Tinto á Íslandi
Rio Tinto Iceland (ISAL) in Straumsvík produces high-quality low carbon aluminium billets used for extrusions. Our production started in 1969, and the company is one of the largest in Iceland. All of our production goes to Europe and Hydro is our largest customer. www.riotinto.is

Contact: Rannveig Rist General manager

Rannveig Rist (b. 1961) is the general manager of Rio Tinto’s smelter ISAL in Iceland. She has been the general manager since 1997. During that period the company has gone through several ownership changes and she has always had the trust of different owners to lead the company. She was the first woman to manage a large corporation in Iceland. She has done so through busts and booms in both the local and global economy. The length of her career at the highest level is an achievement in itself. 

Rannveig is a very important role model within Iceland and beyond, especially for women. Rannveig is a 4th stage Marine engineer, a mechanic, a mechanical engineer from the University of Iceland and holds an MBA degree from the University of San Francisco. Before joining ISAL she worked as a mechanic and an engineer both at land and sea. 

The aluminum industry is and has always been somewhat male orientated. Although there are still more men who work in aluminum it is widely considered equally suitable and attractive for women to work in. The same applies to other heavy industry within Iceland as well. To a large extent this can be contributed to Rannveig’ s focus on gender equality in business and in life.  

Rannveig is a Board member of Lýsi hf., Klíníkin Ármúla ehf. and Samál (Icelandic Association of Aluminium producers) and is an executive board member of the Confederation of Icelandic Business (SA). Previously she was a chairman of the 

Board of Síminn and Skipti and board member at SPRON, Jardboranir, HB Grandi, 

Promens and Chamber of Commerce.

Sea Growth
Sea Growth is a start-up developing sustainable cell-cultivated fish using Iceland’s clean energy and seafood expertise. With a focus on cost-efficient production and high-quality ingredients, we collaborate with industry leaders and researchers to create innovative, eco-friendly alternatives for the seafood market. www.seagrowth.bio

Contact: Birgitta Ásgrímsdóttir CEO

Birgitta G. S. Ásgrímsdóttir is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sea Growth, holding an MSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Düsseldorf, Germany, and an MBA from Reykjavík University. She has over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing within the healthcare and research sectors. Birgitta has also worked for a startup in the pharmaceutical development sector, overseeing operations. Her background spans both scientific and commercial environments.

Sjávarsýn ehf.
Investment company, primarily in shipping, Oil and offshore www.sjavarsyn.is 

Contact: Bjarni Armannsson CEO

Investment professional. Spent 17 years in banking, and other 17 years in PE and investment management

Veitur
Veitur Ohf is Iceland’s largest utility company, providing essential services in electricity distribution, hot and cold water supply, and wastewater management. Serving over half the country’s population, Veitur is committed to sustainability, innovation, and reliability in infrastructure. The company plays a key role in Iceland’s clean energy ecosystem, ensuring efficient resource management and environmentally friendly operations. With a strong focus on future-proof solutions, Veitur supports the nation’s transition to a greener and more resilient energy future. www.veitur.is 

Contact: Sólrún Kristjánsdóttir CEO

Sólrún Kristjánsdóttir is the CEO of Veitur Ohf, Iceland’s largest utility company. She holds a BA in Education and a Master’s in Management and Strategy from the University of Iceland. Sólrún joined Orkuveita Reykjavíkur in 2004. Before leading Veitur, she served as Executive Director of Human Resources and Culture, driving organizational growth and innovation.

Verkís
As a dynamic consultancy firm, Verkís excels in multiple disciplines, backed by decades of expertise from our skilled professionals. We cater to a wide range of service categories to meet diverse client needs. Verkís has been a trusted partner in infrastructure development for ninety years, acquiring valuable knowledge and experience. www.verkis.is

Contact: Eiríkur Steinn Búason 

Eiríkur Steinn Búason has worked for the company since 2010 and has worked in a variety of exciting positions within the firm. Eiríkur is one of the managers of the company's construction department and has been a successful project manager for large design projects in Iceland and Norway. He also led the design of the Holmen swimming pool, which is mentioned in the descriptions above. He also works as a business manager for the construction department and manages the company's marketing efforts in Norway. He sits on the board of the subsidiary Verkís in Norway. Eiríkur has great faith in human relations and believes that a person's ability to communicate can determine the results we achieve in project-driven operations, social work or everyday challenges. Communication, good organization and quality work methods increase efficiency in daily work and operations.

Vélfag
Vélfag was founded in 1995, an Icelandic company specializing in high-tech equipment for fish processing, with the foal of getting maximum value out of every fish processed, with minimum cost for the environment.

From building the world’s first stainless steel filleting machine to revolutionizing UNO One Solution, the purpose is still to further enable fish processors to maximize utilization of resources and quality of the product. www.velfag.com. 

Contact: Trausti Árnason CEO

Trausti Árnason is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vélfag ehf., an Icelandic company specializing in high-tech equipment for fish processing. He took on the leadership role in November 2024, bringing with him extensive experience of 25 years in technology, service, and product development for the fish processing industry.

Prior to joining Vélfag, Trausti served as the SVP Product at Controlant, a leading company in supply chain monitoring solutions, and CTO at Skaginn 3X and Global Service Director for Marel, both global leaders in their field of fish processing technology.

As CEO, Trausti oversees the company's strategic direction and operations, ensuring that Vélfag remains at the forefront of automation and efficiency in fish processing. Under his leadership, the company aims to expand its market presence and continue delivering cutting-edge solutions to the seafood industry.

66° North
About 66°North A certified B Corporation, 66°North is an Icelandic outerwear company creating multipurpose, made to last pieces, since 1926. Iceland has a spirit of people living an extraordinary, everyday life connected to nature and meeting impossible challenges with optimism, joy, and humour. 66°North brings the power and beauty of the North to the world through their products. This means clothes that make life and activity possible where there would otherwise be none, and business practices that conserve and protect the North at a time when our glaciers, weather, and natural landscape are under dramatic threat from climate change. 66°North is a carbon-neutral business that practises a holistic approach to circularity. For more information, visit www.66north.com. 

Contact: Helgi Rúnar Óskarsson CEO

Helgi Rúnar Óskarsson is a lifelong entrepreneur with extensive experience in leading and training businesses in Iceland and Denmark. He graduated from San Diego State University in 1993. In 2011, Helgi and his wife, Bjarney Hardardóttir, sold their home to acquire 66˚North, driven by a vision to expand the Icelandic brand beyond its borders. Under his leadership, the company has grown into key international markets, establishing a strong presence in Europe and North America while also attracting a growing base of Chinese consumers. A key pillar of this expansion has been Helgi’s commitment to sharing 66˚North’s rich heritage, rooted in Iceland’s challenging weather conditions
and decades of craftsmanship. Today, he continues to drive the company’s international growth, positioning 66˚North as a leader in outerwear and fashion with a focus on sustainability, craftsmanship, and technical innovation.