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    Conference at Háskólabíó on 1 November - Dr Michael Porter
    04.10.2010

    Conference at Háskólabíó on 1 November - Dr Michael Porter

    Dr Michael Porter introduces the project Mapping the Icelandic Geothermal Cluster
    Arion Bank is the project’s main sponsor

    The consultancy firm Gekon and Arion Bank have signed an agreement whereby the bank will be the main sponsor of the project Mapping the Icelandic Geothermal Cluster led by Dr Michael Porter, professor at the Harvard Business School.
    The main conclusions of the project will be presented at a conference at Háskólabíó on 1 November.

    Professor Porter, one the world’s leading authorities on competitive strategy and the competitiveness of nations, is the father of cluster policy. Cluster policy concerns the formation of specialized clusters in fields such as technology, the fisheries, industry or geothermal energy, which allow societies to develop their strengths effectively with the goal of increasing lasting prosperity and welfare.

    At the conference Professor Porter will present the findings of his research into the Icelandic geothermal cluster and discuss how best to develop this cluster. In recent years Professor Porter has shown great interest in the Icelandic energy sector, particularly geothermal energy.

    Professor Porter will be joined by Dr Christian Ketels, also from the Harvard Business School, who will describe the characteristics of the Icelandic geothermal cluster, and Katrín Júlíusdóttir, Minister of Industry, who will discuss the role of the authorities. A number of other experts from Iceland and aboard will also speak at the conference. The President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, is the patron of the conference.

    Gekon is responsible for bringing Professor Porter to Iceland and the project led by him and is responsible for conducting the research in Iceland with KPMG. More than 50 organisations are participating in the project in Iceland, including: government ministries, energy companies, engineering companies, financial companies, research institutes and universities; Arion Bank is the main sponsor of the project.