INNOVATION SPOTTERS

Signe works as a project coordinator for the startup incubation and acceleration programme Beyond Beta. Signe holds a Master’s degree in International Relations (2020).

Throughout her studies she has taken a particular interest in the Arctic region. As an innovation spotter, Signe thereby combines her interests in innovation and Arctic affairs.

I teach natural science at a Nordic themed, Nordic folk high school in Sweden. I have a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Gothenburg, specializing in climate change in the arctic and subarctic regions. Subsequently, I studied to become a folk high school teacher at the University of Linköping.

My passion in my work is to encourage curiosity and to engage my students in any way possible – they all have different goals and I wish for them to always seek to improve not only themselves but our world.

I grew up in Nuuk, Greenland, and moved to Sweden in my early adolescence.

My name is Ajaana Kristjánsdóttir, I am 25 years old, and I come from Nuuk.

I studied Tourism Studies in Iceland and work within tourism today, in Copenhagen and in Nuuk.

I am fluent in West & East Greenlandic, Icelandic, Danish and English.

I’m a startup Entrepreneur, AFIS-Officer, Private Pilot License holder, Incident Commander and Founder of Arctic Unmanned

I work offshore as Helicopter Radio Officer besides being independent drone service provider with the company Arctic Unmanned.

I’m an innovation spotter because I know a lot of people in Greenland and Denmark who work with innovation.

I’m a techno-antropolog and climate activist

Currently I’m studying at Aalborg Univseristy in Copnehagen on my third semester in Techno-Antropology

I am an innovation spotter, as the network I have will hopefully contribute to new innovations, as well as broaden my own network. 

I have a bachelor in arctic civil engineering from the Technical University of Denmark. I studied in Sisimiut and Ilulissat in Greenland, and specialized in city planning.

I’m interested in anti-city planning ideas and high local involvement, which has inspired me to do a voluntary 1k hour project that revolves around the city I settled down in: Qaqortoq, the center of the south of Greenland. I hope to repeat the project template elsewhere. 

 I’m passionate about keeping in touch with my environment, and help join local resources to realize local ideas, so it follows logically that I should do innovation spotting.

My name is Andrés Laverde, and I am originally from Colombia but now living in Iceland. I am a geoscientist and recently graduated as an MSc Sustainable Energy Scientist from Reykjavík University.

Currently, I am working for Arctic Green Energy Iceland as an Energy Engineer, analysing, and developing geothermal projects worldwide. I was an UNLEASH talent during the Greenland Innovation Lab.

I have knowledge of innovative start-ups, services, and products in Iceland and the Arctic region.

My name is Keld Aaes and I work as a Business Manager at Arctic Circle Business. Our head office is in Sisimiut, but I am physically based in Maniitsoq and my area of ​​responsibility is Maniitsoq and the three settlements of Kangaamiut, Napasoq and Atammik.

My main task is to create business development in the entire area, that is, to help and advise the existing business community and ENTREPRENEURS in getting the best possible business. A good business is a prerequisite for a good life, both for the business and the rest of society.

So I meet many people who have a good idea and many of the ideas also have the potential to become reality. The ideas that last the longest and are usually successful are those that combine equal parts ingenuity and vision. You must be able to zoom in and “geek” on your product, but you must also be able to zoom out and see your product in a global context!

I have become an Innovation Spotter at NUKIGA because I think the good stories deserve to be told, but at the same time the stories where challenges or frustrations are the theme should also be told. We can learn from both kinds of stories. Furthermore, I hope that the stories can inspire cooperation between entrepreneurs and between entrepreneurs and the established companies.

About Arctic Circle Business
Arctic Circle Business is a politically independent independent organisation, created by the business community in the region, with the aim of creating business development and acting as a mouthpiece for the business community. We have a huge network, and meet with everything from people with dreams of becoming self-employed, to large companies, from local politicians to ministers.

Destination Arctic Circle aims to strengthen the region’s tourism brand, where we are today Greenland’s largest adventure destination, with year-round tourism.
We are the neutral gateway for entrepreneurs and companies in the region, covering the entire Qeqqata Commune. Arctic Circle Business has its head office in Sisimiut, as well as a branch in Maniitsoq.

Sika is born in Nuuk and now studying architecture in Aarhus, Denmark.

Frederik is a gallery owner with Faroese and Greenlandic art. He is also a mentor for NUKIGA and is part of the team behind the Art Exhibition The Ocean/Havet/Imaq.

Britt Vernegren-Kærn is Chairman of the Board of Directors for NUKIGA and works in the fishing industry.

Josepha is Creative Director at NUKIGA. Jospeha’s previous work include: tourist guide in all of Greenland, travel agent selling trips to Greenland, Greenlandic story telling, Greenlandic mask dance, educating within tourism in Greenland and a Master in Experience Communication.

My name is Tórður Ravnsfjall, and I’m from The Faroe Islands. I have a passion and a heart for entrepreneurship and innovation. I started as an entrepreneur in 2017, designing and running guided walking and bike tours in Copenhagen. I loved showing travellers the Danish capital, as have always had a keen interest in history and culture.

I have helped educational companies launch marketing campaign using authentic and honest marketing and have also assisted companies develop successful sales team. Additionally, I have worked with the Blue Lobster App exporting sustainably caught fish from small fishermen in the Faroe Islands to Copenhagen’s finest fish restaurants. Currently, I focus on innovation in green energy.

Culture is extremely important to me. It is the way we understand and see the world, not least ourselves as people. These are our values. I hope to spot some innovation within culture.