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at iceland innovation
week april
28-29 2026

Confirmed speakers 2026

Hildur Einarsdóttir

CEO at Advania
Eric Archembeau

Founder & Managing partner at Astanor
Jennifer Bushman

Co-founder at Fed by Blue
Rune Theill

CEO & Founder at Rockstart

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Themes 2026

From the edge of the Arctic, Iceland understands resilience. Defense and dual-use innovation is no longer about borders alone—it’s about infrastructure, data, energy, and preparedness in an increasingly unstable world. Startups in this space are building technologies that serve both civilian and security needs: satellite intelligence that supports climate monitoring, drones that enable emergency response, and cybersecurity systems protecting democratic societies. In a Nordic context defined by trust, neutrality, and strategic geography, dual-use innovation becomes a bridge between peace-time progress and collective security.
Life sciences in the Nordics sit at the intersection of data, nature, and trust. With unique population datasets, strong public healthcare systems, and a culture of long-term thinking, founders are building companies that rethink prevention, diagnostics, and personalized medicine. From biotech and genomics to digital health and longevity, these startups are solving global health challenges with small-nation agility and deep scientific rigor—proving that breakthrough health innovation doesn’t need scale first, just clarity and courage.
AI and deep tech are reshaping power, productivity, and possibility—and Nordic founders are approaching this shift with responsibility baked in. Built on strong engineering traditions and ethical frameworks, startups in this space are applying AI to fundamental problems: energy optimization, natural language for small languages, advanced robotics, and scientific discovery. In a geopolitical landscape defined by data sovereignty and technological autonomy, Nordic deep tech offers a model where innovation, transparency, and trust can coexist.

Nordic SaaS and consumer startups are known for doing more with less—quietly building global products from small teams and remote geographies. With design-driven thinking, strong product culture, and an instinct for simplicity, founders are creating tools people actually want to use. From B2B platforms scaling globally to consumer apps rooted in wellbeing, creativity, and community, these companies reflect a region where quality, usability, and long-term value matter more than hype.
The future of food is being re-written at the edge of the world. As the OK, bye main theme this year, food innovation reflects a broader shift—away from extractive systems and toward resilience, circularity, and local intelligence. Nordic founders are rethinking protein, fermentation, ocean resources, and supply chains to feed a growing world without breaking it. In a time of climate pressure and geopolitical food insecurity, the future of food is no longer optional—it’s foundational.
Climate tech in the Nordics is pragmatic, data-driven, and deeply tied to nature. Founders here aren’t just talking about sustainability—they’re building infrastructure for a post-carbon economy, from carbon removal and energy systems to climate adaptation and monitoring. With firsthand experience of extreme environments and renewable energy at scale, Nordic startups are turning climate constraints into competitive advantage. In a world where climate and geopolitics are inseparable, climate tech becomes both an economic opportunity and a responsibility.