Iceland‘s Science and Technology Policy Council recommends new Knowledge park outside Reykavik

Iceland’s Science and Technology Policy Council recommends Knowledge Park ouside Reykavik.

Iceland‘s Science and Technology Policy Council (STPC) has launched the strategy for Icelandic science and technology policy 2006-09. Among other things, the strategy suggests that public and private sector cooperate more.

In the strategy four prioritised areas are highlighted:
– to establish an internationally outstanding educational and scientific institutional system, closely connected to a dynamic economy
– to strengthen public competitive funding schemes and merge these in related areas
– to encourage private firms and the public sector institutions to join efforts in strengthening research and development in order to boost successful and profitable innovation and thus international competitiveness based on knowledge
– to redefine the role of the public sector in financially supporting scientific monitoring and research in support of public interest, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.

The STPC has encouraged the various interested parties involved to coordinate their efforts to establish a “knowledge
park” in the area of Vatnsmyri in Reykjavik. The planning and construction design for this area is still at an initial stage and offers a unique opportunity to concentrate “knowledge activities” into that area in order to improve the conditions for innovation and stimulate the exploitation of the outcomes of research and development work. The establishment of a dynamic knowledge park in Vatnsmyri would benefit the country as a whole and provide a powerful backbone for
regional knowledge centres.

Science and Technology Policy 2006-09 for Iceland

Nordforsk newsstory: Public and Private sectors turn partners in new Icelandic research strategy