We are happy to share some very good news from the Icelandic Research Fund (Rannís). The University Centre and startup company East of Moon have been awarded a grant for a two-year project titled “Fostering Innovation in Rural Iceland.” This is also very good news for our current and prospective Coastal Communities and Regional Development students, since two master’s thesis research projects can get funded from the project.

The funding is awarded from the government program Strategic Research and Development Program 2020-2023 Societal Challenges. Only seven out of 68 applications were successful, and our project was the only one funded under the category “Life and jobs in a changing world.”

The principal investigators of the project are Dr. Matthias Kokorsch, Academic Director of Coastal Communities and Regional Development and Arnar Sigurðsson, from the startup company East of Moon and instructor of the CRD course Innovation and Entrepreneurship. On the board of the program is also Ph.D. student Magdalena Falter from the University of Iceland.

Remote and rural communities in Iceland are more at risk of having jobs eliminated due to the 4th industrial revolution compared to the capital area. At the same time, rural innovation ecosystems are less active according to available measures. The project examines how innovation ecosystems can be fostered in rural areas that leads to a more inclusive and resilient society and develops practical and adaptable ways to boost innovation there.

The project has seven work packages, including research conducted at the University Centre. One work-package will include research support for master students at UW. The students will be a part of the section called Building Rural Ecosystem of Innovation, working with CRD program director Matthias Kokorsch on some exciting topics related to resilience building strategies, innovation and transformation processes in rural Iceland.