Recently, dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, CEO of IceProtein and Protis, the Fisheries Incentive Award. The award is a rose in the buttonhole of Hólmfríður, the staff of IceProtein and Protis and FISH Seafood, owner of IceProtein and Protis and recognition of the activities of these companies in Skagafjörður. The award is also a special pleasure for Matís because it is not so long since Hólmfríður worked at Matís' biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur.
But what is IceProtein and what kind of business is involved in the company?
History of IceProtein, Matís in Sauðárkrókur and dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir
IceProtein
At the Fisheries Research Institute (IFL), which is Matís' predecessor, an innovative company was established in 2005 for research projects that involved the utilization of proteins from marine products that were not fully utilized in processing. In 2006, due to FISK Seafood's interest in the operation, the IceProtein factory was moved to Sauðárkrókur and became part of Be Science Parks.
FISK Seafood then acquired a 64% share in Iceprotein in 2009 against a 36% share in Matís. IceProtein and Matís have been involved in a number of research projects. IceProtein's policy was to apply for grants for research and development of service projects for Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga and other companies. Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga established a development fund to support research related to the company's operations in 2010 and the fund's income was 0.15% from the operating income of each production unit. Since the establishment of the development fund, IceProtein's operations have increasingly been linked to service projects for Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga. At the end of 2012, FISK Seafood bought Matís' share in IceProtein and hired dr. Hólmfríður Sigurðardóttir as managing director. Shortly afterwards, more employees were hired for the company and the research capacity and production increased.
In 2015, IceProtein's operations led to the establishment of a new company, Protis, which handles the production and sale of a new product line under the name of the new company. Today, three types of supplements are produced under the name Protis and they are sold in most stores in this country. In January 2016, there were four Protis and IceProtein employees and they all have a degree in biotechnology and biochemistry.
Matís in Sauðárkrókur
In November 2008 opened Matís biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur where a specialized biotechnology and biochemical laboratory was located. The aim was to bring together companies in Skagafjörður and apply advanced research technology in the production of products from underutilized raw materials. The biotechnology center worked with IceProtein on experimental production and facilities were set up for the analysis of bioactive substances. The biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur was established with the support of FISK Seafood, which is one of the largest fisheries companies in the country. At the beginning of 2016, Matís had four employees in Sauðárkrókur.
From Verin in Sauðárkrókur
Dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir
Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir defended her doctoral dissertation at the University of Iceland in May 2008 and then began working in the autumn at the Matís biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur together with other staff and master's students. Since then, Hólmfríður has been in charge of research and development in the field of biotechnology and biomaterials. Hólmfríður's doctoral degree is in the field of biotechnology and in her master's studies she studied nutrition. Her field of interest has been research on biomaterials derived from marine raw materials and with special emphasis on proteins and peptides derived from cod (Gadus morhua).
In 2011, FISK Seafood, which had then acquired a majority stake in IceProtein, invested in new headquarters and moved IceProtein and Matís' biotechnology center to that premises. On that occasion, Matís added equipment to the biotechnology center. In 2013, when FISK Seafood had fully acquired IceProtein, Hólmfríður moved from Matís and became the managing director of IceProtein.
"I hope that this award will not only be a water on our mill in Skagfjörður to continue working closely with all kinds of entrepreneurs for the benefit of innovation and development of FISK Seafood and the industry for good, but will also encourage other fisheries companies to increase cooperation with entrepreneurs . Innovation results in better quality in fishing and processing, improved image, more diverse marketing methods and more value creation within the companies. "
Dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir