Norðanátt is the driving force of innovation in the North, which aims to increase investment in the region and create a dynamic environment for entrepreneurs and companies working to innovate with an emphasis on climate issues and the circular economy.
The Nordic Region is rich in resources that support food, water, and energy-related innovation, and has a strong group of entrepreneurs. In recent months, innovation in, among other things, food production and sustainable utilisation of energy resources has grown rapidly and the Nordic region has every opportunity to create a unique position and become a role model for others when it comes to improving resource utilisation and innovation. Norðanátt is a holistic approach to the innovation ecosystem in the North and will therefore play a key role in bringing dynamic ideas to the next level.
Role Norðanáttar is to support entrepreneurs and businesses from the early stages of an idea to the search for investors, which is done by hosting a number of events each year in the innovation cycle, supporting green innovation ideas at different levels. Norðanátt started in 2021 when funding was received from the Innovation Fund Lóu from the Ministry of Academia, Industry and Innovation, but with the grant, the first circuit in North Iceland was launched, which included the Hacking Northland solution tournament, the business accelerator Growth Space and concluded the first cycle with an investor festival in Siglufjörður in March 2022.
Norðanátt received a grant from the Ministry of Environment and Climate in spring 2022 to fund a second cycle that began at the North Wand Innovation Competition in May 2022.
Declarations of cooperation were also signed following spring 2022 between Norðanáttar and the universities in the North; The University of Akureyri and Hólar University with the aim of creating an even stronger ecosystem of innovation in the area. The universities are an important link in that ecosystem and therefore a great asset of collaboration.
The third cycle began in fall 2023 with the business accelerator Startup Storm (formerly Vaxtarrými) and an Investor Festival is planned for spring 2024.
To the project Norðanátt EIMUR, the Association of Municipalities and Economic Development in the North East (SSNE) and the Association of Municipalities in the North West (SSNV) come with support from the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate. Furthermore, the support company RATA was one of the founding partners of the project along with the aforementioned parties. The group works in the spirit of a new cluster policy, across community institutions that accelerates progress and innovation.
