Research and innovation are essential for addressing change and strengthening the Icelandic food industry. This requires human capital, collaboration, shared facilities, equipment and funding — all working in concert. The need is great, and competition is fierce with other sectors and services. The collaboration between Matís and the University of Iceland is a good example of how this can work. Matís has served as a bridge between higher education and industry in a highly successful partnership. Over the past 15 years, approximately 30 individuals have completed doctoral projects and around 150 individuals have carried out their master's research projects in collaboration with industry. In this way, we have educated and trained the specialists and entrepreneurs of the future in the utilisation, processing and value creation from biological resources in Iceland. This is also one of the prerequisites for Matís's strong performance in European Union competitive funds in financing collaborative projects to address the challenges and opportunities facing food producers in Iceland.
Matís's collaboration with universities involves shared staff and the joint use of facilities and equipment to strengthen both the theoretical and practical education of university students in the relevant fields of study. The research in these projects covers areas such as food production, food safety, biotechnology and energy utilisation. It helps to increase Iceland's competitiveness on the international stage and creates opportunities for innovation that benefit society as a whole.
The goal is also to be a leading and internationally competitive specialist in research and innovation in the utilisation of organic resources at sea and on land. In this way, joint research projects have strengthened both postgraduate education and Icelandic society. Matís thus serves as an important bridge between science and industry by connecting university student projects with the needs of business and society.
In recent years, students from the University of Akureyri, the University of Iceland and interns from several European universities have carried out their projects under the guidance of Matís specialists. All were conducted in collaboration with companies in the industry, covering topics such as future transport routes for fresh salmon to North America, further processing of salmon and coastal fisheries in Iceland. Six master's students in food science, industrial biotechnology and microbiology at the University of Iceland completed their projects during the year. These ranged from research on thermophilic microorganisms and the microbial flora in the curing of Greenlandic shark, to microorganisms on fish tubs and a comparison of fisheries in Norway and Iceland.
Thirteen doctoral students at the University of Iceland conducted their research in collaboration with Matís. Two students defended their projects in the past year: Rebecca Sim and Anna Þóra Hrólfsdóttir. There were 27 interns from foreign universities — master's level interns who come for six months at a time, and doctoral students who come primarily from European countries. In 2023, they came from nine countries — Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, India, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic and Germany — and from nineteen universities.
The collaboration between Matís and Iceland's universities demonstrates how targeted knowledge-building can have a positive impact on industry and the economy. By expanding expertise, connecting with international institutions and supporting doctoral projects, this collaboration has laid the foundation for new solutions and opportunities. To sustain this progress, further investment in research and innovation is needed. With a clear vision and support for human capital, we can ensure that Iceland continues to lead in innovation and knowledge creation, to the benefit of future generations.
Oddur Már Gunnarsson, CEO of Matís, and Salvör Jónsdóttir, Chair of the Board of Matís.