Rector: Income of University of Iceland Must Grow

by Valentina Giangreco M. Puletti 31 Oct 2014 Research Policies
Published in the "Nordic News" section of Nordita News issue 1, 2014

In a public speech, the rector of the University of Iceland, Kristin Ingólfsdóttir, comes back to the cutting of public financial funding of the university. As she explained, in order to reach the level of public investments in other Nordic universities the income must grow by five billion ISK (over 30 million EUR). Currently the University of Iceland has about 14 thousand students and 2000 staff. It plays a crucial role in Icelandic education and development of new knowledge and wealth based on research and science.

She mentioned how basic research has contributed to capital growth, and how the University of Iceland has been a leading center for innovation and new industries in Iceland. She recalled recent three start-up companies based on research in ophthalmic in cooperation with scientists working on computer science, statistics, pharmacology, and electrical engineering.