Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Industry and Innovation, visited the knowledge centre in Húsavík today. The purpose of the visit was to sign agreements for the operation of Hraðinn – the Innovation Centre and FabLab Húsavík. These are agreements that have been in preparation for some time, running until 2022, with some extending to 2023. The opportunity was also taken to discuss the future operation and the ministry's support for the activities on Hafnarstéttin.
Signing of contracts: Katrín, Óli, Áslaug Arna, Stefán Pétur
On the same occasion, more distinguished guests attended a meeting at the site and also met the minister; namely, members of the group who took the first steps in Marel's development history in Húsavík: Dr Rögnvaldur Ólafsson, Tryggvi Finnsson and Hallgrímur Valdimarsson. Rögnvaldur, who has sat on the board of the Knowledge Network and the Accelerator since their inception, was the one who pioneered the initial ideas behind the digitalisation of the food industry through his development work at the Institute of Natural Sciences of the University of Iceland. Rögnvaldur brought these ideas into partnership with the Húsavík Fish Processing Association, where many capable local people worked, with Tryggvi as managing director and Hallgrím as foreman leading the way. In very simple terms, these were the first steps in the lead-up to the establishment of Marel, which everyone knows today. The Minister, Áslaug Arna, met with the colleagues at the premises of Hraðinn for a chat about innovation, past and future. Katrín Sigurjónsdóttir, Mayor of Norðurþing, welcomed the minister, along with the heads of Hraðinn and Þekkingarnetið, as Norðurþing has direct affiliation with Fab Lab Húsavík and is currently shaping further collaboration with Hraðið following the agreement with the ministry.
Dr Rögnvaldur Ólafsson and Minister Áslaug Arna on the Harbour Promenade
Members from the development days of Marel and the Húsavík Fish Processing Association.
From left: Hallgrímur (former operations/production manager of FH), Rögnvaldur (from the Faculty of Science, University of Iceland), Tryggvi (former managing director of FH)
The minister speaks with the leaders of Vals ehf., who are putting the finishing touches to the construction of the cluster's premises..
Bjarni Aðalgeirsson, houseowner at Hafnarstétt 1-3, and Rögnvaldur Ólafsson