The purpose of the Westfjords Development Fund (Uppbyggingarsjóður Vestfjarða) is to support cultural, business development and innovation projects in the Westfjords and to provide support for start-up and operating costs to cultural institutions in the Westfjords.
The application window for projects taking place in 2024 has been closed. The next window, for projects taking place in the year 2025 will be opened in October. Applications will be accepted in Icelandic or English with an excerpt in Icelandic.
Applications can be on behalf of individuals of legal age, community organizations, companies or institutions in the Westfjords. Applicants must have an Icelandic ID number (kennitala).
Applications must be submitted electronically at http://www.vestfirdir.is/uppbyggingarsjodur and the following apply:
a) Applicants must have submitted final or progress reports for previous grants awarded by the Development Fund before applying for a follow-up project.
b) Applications are evaluated in a professional manner based on the credibility and quality of applications and projects related to their impact on business development, innovation, human resources, culture and daily life in the short term.
c) Grants from the Development Fund can account for to up to 50% of the estimated total costs of the project.
d) The salary cost of the applicants shall be based on take-home salary plus salary-related expenses, according to general wage agreements.
Eligible projects
a) Grants from the Development Fund must be in line with the objectives of the Westfjords Development Strategy 2020-2024.
b) The Westfjords Development Fund supports projects that promote the development of the economy and enrich cultural life and innovation in the Westfjords.
Eligible projects include:
- Processing and dissemination of research results
- Cultural festivals
- Development of employment of youth in the Westfjords
- Environmental projects with sustainability as a guiding principle
- Innovation
- Education-related projects that increase collaboration between schools
- Cultural events
- Business development
- Preparation of business plans
- Preparation of marketing plans
- Implementation of design in product development
- Development of organizational efficiency methods and workflows
The Development Fund does not finance:
a) Investments in companies or purchase of real estate.
b) Purchase of computers or general office equipment, except in the case of start-up and operating cost grants.
c) Registration of cultural artifacts or preservation of acheological artifacts .
d) Established or existing town festivals, established sports or religious activities, or existing cultural projects within schools.
e) Grants for research projects. If related to research, the projects should rather revolve around the utilization or dissemination of research results.
f) Costs incurred before 1 January 2024.
g) Projects or applicants that receive more than 200 thousand Euros in support from public bodies over each three-year period must follow the guidelines listed in Article 3. EU Commission Regulation no. 1407/2013 of 18 December 2013.
Special consideration for the year 2024
- Projects that strengthen co-operation between areas in the Westfjords.
- Projects that build on Westfjords feature
- Projects that emphasize the sustainability and the energy transition
- Projects that strengthen the ties between culture and enterprise and increase the public participation in cultural or social life.
- Projects that contributes in lengthening the travel season.
- Projects that aim on applying for international grants
- Projects supporting a thriving multicultural community in the Westfjords.