Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

• Reinforcing research on education with a view to
develop the educational system and make it respond more
swiftly to increasing demands of knowledge, efficiency,
creativity, initiative and flexibility.
• Promoting innovation as a feasible alternative for investment
and to encourage domestic and foreign investors to engage
in the support of innovative companies including SMES.
• Facilitating research on the national heritage its old manuscripts,
literary culture, language and contemporary culture
along with the present emphasis on international efforts and
image of Iceland as a dynamic forward-looking nation.
• Boosting research into successful alternatives in preventive
efforts against social epidemics as well as in health
improvement, rehabilitation, novel approaches in health
services, pharmaceuticals and safe food.
• Increasing research in support of a sustainable utilization
of natural resources on land, offshore and in the ocean.
• Increasing multidisciplinary research with extensive
private support into the probable and extensive impacts on
the natural and social environment through global warming.
• Increasing research on the infrastructures of our society
with emphasis on its characteristics and uniqueness.
• Increasing attention towards creative industries in which
innovation, on-the edge information technology, culturalactivities
and entertainment merge with economic activities and
investment, creating new companies and job opportunities.
2.6.2.3 Term of the program, Financial Aspects and
Application Procedure
In this context the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS), a
government agency that reports to the Ministry of Education,
Science and Culture, set up the program “Strategic Research
Program for Centres of Excellence and Research
Clusters” in 2008. The overall objective of this program
is to reinforce science and technology research, encourage
successful collaboration between different parties nationally,
as well as internationally, and actuate value creation and
investment in research and innovation in the economy. The
centres of excellence or the research clusters that will receive
financial support should have the chance to be outstanding
internationally.
In a first round RANNIS called for proposals for centres of excellence
or research clusters. To further develop these proposals
up to ten of them could be supported with a grant of
EUR 5,600 (ISK 1,000,000). They were offered to submit full
proposals by October 2008. The maximum grant amount is
80 million ISK per year for up to seven years. Funding was
eventually granted to three Centres of Excellence and Research
clusters: GEORG – Geothermal Research Group, IIIM –
Icelandic Institute for Intelligent Machines and EDDA – Centre
of Excellence in Critical Contemporary Research at the
University of Iceland.
2.6.2.2 Target Group of the Program
Target group of the program includes cluster-like collaborations
between companies, universities and research institutions.
Term of the program 2009-2015
Budget
Type of funding
EUR 6.8 million (ISK 1.12 billion)
Grant funding
Does the program have a specific technology focus
Are there calls for proposals
Is there a dialogue with applicants about the improvement
of their application prior to the final
submission of the application
Maximum funding period for a project
Is there a maximum amount of funding an applicant
can apply for
Financing structure of projects
Most important evaluation criteria for project
proposals
No
Yes (there was a call at the beginning of the program)
Yes
7 years
EUR 3.4 million (ISK 560 million)
• Up to 25 per cent
• Impact on industry sector and companies
• Impact on society (non-economic effects)
• SME focus or SME participation in activities
• Technology or scientific area of cluster
• Knowledge and/or technology transfer
2.6.2.4 Instruments
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