11/09/2025
Exploring Icelandic Innovation 🇮🇸 October 12 - 15th, 2025
The Gúnta Business team had the incredible opportunity to meet and visit some of the country’s most forward-thinking companies and organizations, which are leading in clean energy, technology, and community innovation.
Over the first few days of our business trip to Iceland, our visits highlighted Iceland’s global leadership in renewable technologies, entrepreneurship, and circular economy solutions — and reinforced strong connections between Icelandic and Canadian partners working toward a low-carbon future.
We began by meeting with Laki Power, a cleantech pioneer providing real-time, line-powered monitoring systems for high-voltage power grids that improve reliability and sustainability in extreme environments. We then connected with Crowberry Capital, Iceland’s first female-founded venture capital firm, which invests in early-stage startups across AI, fintech, and digital health — embodying diversity, innovation, and Nordic collaboration. Our discussion with Planet Youth showcased the powerful Icelandic Prevention Model, an evidence-based approach to strengthening youth and community well-being that has already taken root in Canada. At Arctic Trucks, we saw world-class engineering in action, as their high-performance off-road vehicles are now expanding across North America, designed specifically for Arctic and northern terrain.
We also visited Tæknisetur (IceTec), Iceland’s national innovation and technology center, which bridges research and industry by supporting startups in materials science, biotechnology, civil engineering, and energy. While there, we met with IceWind, a remarkable cleantech company producing vertical-axis wind turbines engineered for Arctic climates — durable, bird-friendly, and ideal for powering remote northern communities. Another highlight was attending Iceland Innovation Week, a vibrant annual festival celebrating creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainability across the Icelandic innovation ecosystem. As part of that visit, we toured the Icelandic Ocean Cluster (IOC), an innovation hub leading the blue economy through its “100% Fish” initiative, transforming marine byproducts into high-value products and fostering circular economy growth worldwide.
A particularly meaningful stop was with our partner Verkís, Iceland’s oldest and largest independent engineering consultancy. Together under our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Gunta Business and Verkís are collaborating to advance geothermal and biomass district-heating projects in the Yukon, across Canada, and internationally. This partnership unites Gunta’s Indigenous-led expertise in renewable energy, community engagement, and northern development with Verkís’ global leadership in geothermal and district-heating engineering — a shared commitment to resilient, culturally respectful, and sustainable energy systems.
We are deeply grateful to Xavier (Xavi) Rodriguez, Senior Trade Commissioner and Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy of Canada in Iceland, for his outstanding hospitality and support throughout our visit. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the CanExport Program for funding Gúnta Business’s participation in this international mission, and to Francis Acquarone, Trade Commissioner, for his continued guidance and support for Gunta Business’s growth over the past year. These engagements have strengthened our international partnerships, expanded our networks, and deepened our shared commitment to building innovative, inclusive, and sustainable energy futures.
