Asa Gudmundsdottir Wright Award Presented as Plans for New Icelandic Academy of Science & Innovation Announced
Recognizing Contributions to Science and Innovation
Iceland’s President, Halla Tomasdottir, presented the Asa Gudmundsdottir Wright Award at a ceremony at the presidential residence. This year’s recipients are G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, Founder and CEO of Kerecis, and Jon Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland. The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to science and innovation in Iceland.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250214199674/en/
President Halla Tomasdottir and Kerecis Founder and CEO Fertram Sigurjonsson (Photo: Business Wire)
During the ceremony, plans were also announced for the establishment of the Icelandic Academy of Science & Innovation, into which the award recipients will be inducted as members. The academy will provide a platform for collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, and academia. It will uphold the tradition of the Asa Fund by granting annual awards and aims to foster dialogue, recognize achievements in science and technology, and contribute to policy discussions in these fields.
Modeled on similar institutions in the Nordic countries, the UK, and the US, the academy will include past and future Asa Award recipients as members. Its focus will be on strengthening connections between science and industry, supporting research and innovation, and advocating for policies that advance scientific and technological development.
As one of Iceland’s most prolific inventors G. Fertram Sigurjonsson was recognized for his work in medical technology and biotechnology, including for his role in developing intact fish-skin technology for wound repair and tissue regeneration at Kerecis.
Jon Atli Benediktsson was honored for his contributions to higher education and research, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. He has been recognized on Clarivate’s list of the world’s most influential researchers for seven consecutive years.
The Asa Gudmundsdottir Wright Fund was established in 1968 in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Icelandic Science Society. Since its inception, the fund has awarded honorary prizes to 56 individuals for significant scientific achievements in Iceland or on behalf of Iceland. While it continues to recognize excellence in science, it now also acknowledges achievements in innovation.
The fund is supported by sponsors including HS Orka, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur, and Oculis, whose contributions are greatly appreciated by the board.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250214199674/en/
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Celltrion receives positive CHMP Opinion for SteQeyma™ (ustekinumab biosimilar) autoinjector18.12.2025 03:41:00 CET | Press release
SteQeyma™45mg and 90mg solution for injection via autoinjector (pre-filled pen) receives positive CHMP opinion, which will facilitate subcutaneous administration in patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and Crohn’s disease (CD)1The new autoinjector option increases convenience, enhances individual patient experience and expands administration options Celltrion, Inc. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion of autoinjector of SteQeyma™, a biosimilar to Stelara® (ustekinumab), for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and Crohn’s disease (CD). The positive CHMP opinion is for SteQeyma autoinjector in 45mg/0.5mL and 90mg/1mL, expanding the currently approved SteQeyma™ presentation, which includes 45mg/0.5mL, 90mg/1mL in a pre-filled syringe and 45mg/0.5mL in a vial for subcutaneous injection, as well as 130mg/26mL concentrate for solution f
Megaport Expands into India, Accelerating Global Growth with Extreme IX Acquisition18.12.2025 02:15:00 CET | Press release
Through the Extreme Exchange (IX) acquisition, Megaport gains seven Internet Exchanges and access to 40+ data centres across India’s fastest-growing digital hubs. Megaport Limited (ASX: MP1) (“Megaport”), the world’s leading Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, today announced the acquisition of Extreme IX,India’s leading Internet Exchange operator, from Extreme Labs, a Bulgaria-headquartered software and network engineering company that incubated the Extreme IX platform. The acquisition expands Megaport’s global platform into one of the world’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure markets and supports the Company’s strategy to deliver scalable, high-performance connectivity services across APAC. The acquisition establishes Megaport’s presence across seven Internet Exchanges in major Indian metros: Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune, connecting 40+ data centres and more than 400 customers. It also accelerates Megaport’s planned market entry by nearly thr
IonQ and QuantumBasel Expand Long-Term Partnership in Next-Generation Quantum Systems17.12.2025 22:10:00 CET | Press release
Extension solidifies QuantumBasel as IonQ’s Innovation Center in Europe; adds IonQ Tempo and next-generation system to advance quantum commercialization IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum company, today announced an expanded agreement with QuantumBasel, the quantum initiative of uptownBasel, Switzerland’s innovation campus. The extended contract grants QuantumBasel ownership of its existing IonQ Forte Enterprise system and secures ownership of a next-generation Tempo system. This new agreement brings the total deal value of the QuantumBasel and IonQ partnership to over $60 million and extends IonQ’s on-site presence in Switzerland four more years, continuing through 2029. QuantumBasel is IonQ’s official Innovation Center in Europe, serving as a hub for European industry, academia, and research institutions to explore practical quantum computing applications and access IonQ’s latest enterprise-grade systems. “Our extended partnership with QuantumBasel represents a cornerston
Suzano Starts Up New Production Line, Boosting Its Fluff Pulp Capacity by 400%17.12.2025 21:50:00 CET | Press release
A R$490 million investment expands the supply of raw material used in the production of absorbent items Suzano, the world’s largest pulp producer, has commenced operations this week at its new fluff pulp production line located in its Limeira unit in Brazil’s São Paulo state. This R$490 million investment increases Suzano’s total fluff pulp production capacity by more than 400%, from 100,000 to 440,000 tonnes per year. The project involved converting the existing pulp line at the Limeira unit into a flexible machine, capable of producing both Eucafluff® and market pulp. Eucafluff® is used in the production of absorbent and personal hygiene products, such as baby and adult diapers, sanitary pads and pet pads. Then market pulp is supplied for making products including toilet paper, printing and writing papers, and paper packaging. Launched in 2015, Eucafluff® is the world’s first fluff pulp made from eucalyptus, delivering unique advantages like enhanced softness and flexibility, which t
SES Acknowledges Moody’s Rating Action and Reiterates Deleveraging Commitments17.12.2025 21:36:00 CET | Press release
SES S.A. (“SES” or the “Company”), a leading space solutions company, acknowledges the credit rating action announced by Moody’s Investor Service today, which follows the release of SES’ Q3 2025 results and Intelsat integration update. SES management reiterates that the Company continues to execute on its strategy with a clear plan to strengthen its key credit metrics over time. Consistent with this plan, it remains management’s intention to de-lever and return to credit metrics that are commensurate with investment grade, with a policy objective of reducing adjusted net leverage1 to at least 3.0x or below. Today’s rating action does not change the Company’s ability to operate its business, serve customers, or execute its strategic plan. SES maintains a balanced weighted average debt maturity profile of approximately five years, and the rating action from Moody’s is not expected to have a material impact on the interest payable under the Company’s existing debt facilities. SES also ben
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom