Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research

What Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research does

Rannsóknamiðstöð Íslands (Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research) is an independent Icelandic public institution that serves as the country's national administrator of competitive research and innovation funding. Its core mandate is to manage Iceland's primary competitive research, innovation, education, and cultural funds, while acting as Iceland's gateway to major European and Nordic funding programs including Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Nordplus, Creative Europe, the EEA Financial Mechanism (Uppbyggingarsjóður EES), and the Enterprise Europe Network. The organization is headquartered at Borgartún 30, 105 Reykjavík, employs approximately 102 staff, and is registered under Icelandic company number kt. 531094-2129.

Operationally, Rannís runs the Styrkjatorg online grant management portal, which provides a single self-service surface for applicants to discover, apply for, and track grants across all administered funds. The companion Gagnatorg data portal publishes research statistics and outputs from Rannís-funded activities. National funding instruments under its administration include the Tækniþróunarsjóður (Technology Development Fund) for business-based R&D and the Markáætlun um náttúruvá (Natural Hazards Research Programme). Rannís also administers the annual Nýskópunarverðlaun Íslands (Icelandic Innovation Awards) and convenes the Nýsköpunarþing (Innovation Conference).

Rannís generates no commercial revenue; it is government-funded and operates as a pass-through and intermediary institution. Its customer base is segmented across four verticals: the Icelandic research community (universities, research institutions, individual researchers), Icelandic innovators and companies seeking R&D and innovation grants, the education and youth sector (Erasmus+, Nordplus beneficiaries), and the cultural sector (Creative Europe recipients). Distribution channels combine the self-serve Styrkjatorg portal with in-person service at the Reykjavík office.

Name

Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research

Legal name

Rannsóknamiðstöð Íslands

Website

https://rannis.is

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rannís is Iceland's national research and innovation funding agency, administering competitive national funds and serving as Iceland's gateway to EU and Nordic programs (Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Nordplus, Creative Europe, EEA Grants). It serves Icelandic researchers, universities, companies, educators, and cultural organizations via its Styrkjatorg grant portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Funding Administration

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration (EDADAHAL), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Research funding administration
• Innovation grants
• Grant management services
• Educational mobility programs
• Technology development funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavik

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rannís administers Iceland's main competitive research and innovation funds, as well as EU and Nordic cooperation programmes (Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Creative Europe, Nordplus, EEA Grants) that award grants for collaborative projects, education, and training. The agency runs the Styrkjatorg online grant portal, the Gagnatorg data portal, the Tækniþróunarsjóður Technology Development Fund, the Markáætlun um náttúruvá natural hazard research programme, and the Icelandic Innovation Awards (Nýsköpunarverðlaun Íslands). It also acts as Iceland's national node in the Enterprise Europe Network, supporting Icelandic companies' internationalisation.

Product overview

Rannís operates as a research funding and administration body rather than a commercial product company. Its primary offering is the Styrkjatorg (Grant Portal), an online platform for managing grant applications and funding programs. The organization administers national competitive funds for research and innovation, education, and culture, alongside EU programmes (Erasmus+, Horizon Europe) and Nordic programmes (Nordplus). Additional services include the Gagnatorg data portal, the Technology Development Fund (Tækniþróunarsjóður) for business R&D, and the Icelandic Innovation Awards. The portfolio functions as a unified funding administration ecosystem rather than a modular software product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Styrkjatorg Grant Portal
• Gagnatorg Data Portal
• Tækniþróunarsjóður (Technology Development Fund)
• Markáætlun um náttúruvá (Natural Hazard Research Programme)
• Nýsköpunarverðlaun Íslands (Icelandic Innovation Awards)
• Erasmus+ (Iceland implementation)
• Nordplus (Iceland implementation)
• Uppbyggingarsjóður EES (EEA Grants)
• Enterprise Europe Network — Iceland node

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Erasmus+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU funding program for education, youth and sports managed by Rannís in Iceland. Provides grants for mobility, cooperation projects, and policy development across education sectors.
• EEA Grants (Uppbyggingarsjóður EES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcelandic funding mechanism supporting cooperation projects between Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and fifteen beneficiary countries in Europe. Part of the European Economic Area Agreement.
• Enterprise Europe NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network helping businesses innovate and compete internationally. Rannís serves as the Icelandic node, helping Icelandic companies access new markets and international cooperation.
• NordpluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic-Baltic cooperation program for education and lifelong learning. Managed by Rannís, it supports mobility and joint projects across Nordic and Baltic countries.
• Creative EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU program supporting culture and creative sectors. Rannís administers this program in Iceland, providing funding for cultural projects and creative industry cooperation.
• Horizon EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU's key funding program for research and innovation. Rannís serves as the national contact point, helping Icelandic researchers and institutions access funding and participate in international consortia.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/rannis
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rannis.Iceland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rannis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research