Around 300 people attended the yearly open meeting of the Icelandic Innovation Centre, held this week at Reykjavik’s Hilton Hotel. Discussion at the meeting focused on the Centre’s actions since the banking collapse last October. A press release from the organisation explains that the Innovation Centre’s quick reaction to the financial crisis garnered a lot of foreign media attention, leading to several stories on “the Icelandic way out of the crisis”, mbl.is reports.
Among the developments that have taken place since October is the Staff Energy initiative, whereby companies, with co-operation and financial support from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, can get people off the unemployed register and working on innovation and research projects. 18 companies have already taken part in the scheme, creating 52 new “jobs”.
In October the Centre launched another scheme with the newly nationalised commercial banks to open business centres. Two new business centres have already been launched in Islandsbanki (New Glitnir) and Landsbanki buildings, where 50 people can get all sorts of help and assistance in getting their business ideas off the ground.
The Icelandic Innovation Centre also hailed its involvement with the Innovation Factory in Arborg and the Crucible Employment and Development Centre of Hafnarfjordur.
