ABEC, ACEP and Center ICE Partner to Deepen Collaboration with Iceland

Supporting innovation centered around marine industries makes sense to countries and states that have vast coastlines. 91��Ƶ and Iceland, which both have extensive coastlines, share an interest in cultivating marine innovation and industries through business accelerators called “clusters.”

The has worked closely with the state of 91��Ƶ for years. The , recently merged with the 91��Ƶ Fisheries Development Foundation, was one of the first sister clusters of IOC to be established outside of Iceland. In 2019, IOC and the then-director of the 91��Ƶ Ocean Cluster, Justin Sternberg, signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their collaboration.

As a result, the University of 91��Ƶ Fairbanks’ 91��Ƶ Blue Economy Center, 91��Ƶ Center for Energy and Power, and 91��Ƶ Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship, have engaged with Erlingur Gudleifsson, one of Iceland’s foremost innovators in seafood processing. This partnership will promote the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge in the fields of fisheries, energy and innovation between Iceland and 91��Ƶ. Gudleifsson has been a member of IOC’s advisory team since 2018 and will be based at the Ocean Cluster House in Reykjavik in his new position. He is a mechanical engineer and has extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of marine product innovation and full utilization. Gudleifsson holds an MBA from Reykjavík University.

“We look forward to further developing academic and industry collaboration between Iceland and 91��Ƶ through this partnership,” said Sternberg, now ABEC’s director. “Both regions are world leaders in sustainable seafood and energy innovation and have much to share to our mutual benefit. We welcome Erlingur and are grateful to IOC founder and Chairman Thor Sigfusson for his leadership and engagement with 91��Ƶ.”

“I have long believed there are many avenues for knowledge sharing between 91��Ƶ and Iceland,” said Gwen Holdmann, UAF’s associate vice chancellor of research for innovation and industry partnerships. “I am looking forward to strengthening existing partnerships and growing new ones, and I believe Erlingur has the right background and skills to help foster these collaborations. We are fortunate to have him as part of our team!”

UAF is a leader in Arctic research in fisheries, mariculture and the development of rural energy infrastructure. Through this partnership, UAF will fortify its position in energy and blue economy matters. UAF is the first American university to work officially at the Ocean Cluster House in Reykjavík.

Erlingur Gudleifsson joins UAF to promote the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge in the fields of fisheries, energy and innovation from Iceland to 91��Ƶ. Photo by Jeff Fisher.