The research activities of the Knowledge Network consist primarily of the following areas:
The Knowledge Network has the role, in accordance with its charter and a contract with the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and University Affairs, of supporting scientific and academic work in the North-East Counties. Thus, the emphasis is on hosting researchers and assisting those who conduct research in the Þingeyjarsýslur in a variety of ways. This service is provided through access to the Knowledge Network's premises, equipment and network, as well as through formal and informal advice on research activities.
This research service is provided to various parties, most notably the following:
The Knowledge Network, under an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs, the Department of Culture and Planning, has specific duties to take the initiative in research and development work in the region. Thus, the aim is to acquire knowledge of the community or environment in the region through research and participation in various development projects.
Most of these projects are domestic and concern issues within the region, i.e. the Knowledge Network's area of operation. The Knowledge Network's specialisation in its own initiative projects is the region; i.e. both the community and the environment of its area of operation. The approach is therefore interdisciplinary, based on specialisation in the region rather than on individual professional fields. However, from its inception, the Knowledge Network has been heavily involved in initiative projects related to a practical and community-based approach.
The Knowledge Network has increasingly been involved and been an active participant in foreign/international research and development projects. These projects are almost always based on the collaboration of numerous institutions and companies and are, in most cases, built on a Nordic or European foundation.
The sale of specialist work is always part of the work undertaken by the research area of the Knowledge Network. This typically includes service research and information gathering for local authorities or in collaboration with them. For several years now, the Knowledge Network has also been undertaking a major monitoring project for Landsvirkjun and other parties, namely the so-called 'Sustainability Project in North Iceland', which has been named 'Gaumur'. That project has its own website where the results of the social and environmental monitoring are published: www.gaumur.is.
Each year, the Knowledge Network focuses on running temporary research projects for university students. These projects are largely funded by a project fund managed by the Knowledge Network, but financed by the municipalities in the Þingeyjar regions. Every year since the Knowledge Network was established, the organisation has run such projects, typically between 3 and 5 per summer. The aim of these projects is twofold: on the one hand, to introduce research work in the home region to young local students and create employment, and on the other, to create a platform for applied research that can have a positive impact on strengthening the communities.
Everything can be found on the homepage. Published material Knowledge Network, where most of the research published by the institution can be accessed.