Creating a community for innovation in Iceland
Vera Dögg Antonsdóttir - CEO of Gróska
Vera Dögg Antonsdóttir - CEO of Gróska
The idea almost ten years ago was to build a house around innovation in Iceland. The project is not about renting office space but creating a new community here. It is therefore an ambitious undertaking. It's good to be here and there is significant flow between spaces.
Now Gróska has risen, gradually filling with people, and we see our community forming day by day.
We want the residents of Gróska to connect with universities and enrich the university area as a whole. Here you'll find Mýrin, an entrepreneurial center run by Vísindagarðar, Gróðurhúsið which offers shared rental space, a food hall, fitness center, CCP, Íslandsstofa, University of Iceland computer science department, an advertising agency - all entities that can support innovation companies while also attracting people and enhancing the community life in the building.
In the Greenhouse on the second floor, there are currently 40 companies, which will increase to about 70-80 when construction is completed. These are companies that have already generated some revenue or secured funding. In Mýrin, an entrepreneurial center run by Science Parks on the first floor, there are nearly 50 entities with lighter facilities, along with Klak, Auðna Technology Forum, Snjallræði (which operates in collaboration with MIT), Iceland Design Center, and others. When everyone is at their office, there are 700 people in the building, which will increase to about 900 when Gróska is fully completed.
One of our greatest ambitions is to connect innovation companies with the university community and established businesses. Companies in the building have already begun conversations with the University of Iceland about curriculum and how it can better serve the needs of this sector.
Our task today is to work with the people in the building, help them grow and thrive, and strengthen Gróska as a platform where companies support each other, host events, communicate with one another, and share knowledge and human resources. We therefore see Gróska as a support network for entrepreneurs.
But of course, each company creates its own success and journey. Their achievement depends on themselves. Companies should grow and flourish. 13 companies have doubled or tripled their operations since moving to Gróska, which is very exciting. They should become too large and outgrow the building. That must be the goal.
Vera Dögg Antonsdóttir - CEO of Gróska
Success can take many forms. Companies have different and diverse goals, but our role is to help clients achieve the results they are aiming for.
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