The innovation conference Tonik in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, took place on May 7–8 this year. This was the fourth time the conference has been held. It has grown significantly over the years and was highly successful this year. The conference combines innovation, educational talks, and artistic events. Several hundred people attended, around half of whom came from outside the Faroe Islands. As a result, there was a lively atmosphere in Tórshavn during those days.
Valdimar Halldórsson, Investment Manager, attended the conference this year as a representative of the Business Venture Fund Kría. Several dozen Icelanders participated in the conference, including a number of Icelandic startups that introduced themselves and their companies to investors and took part in a so-called “pitch competition” held during the event.
In connection with Tonik, participants were offered excursions to other towns outside Tórshavn, such as company visits in Klaksvík and Runavík. Participants were also invited on a tour through the Faroe Islands’ largest subsea tunnel, where the group stopped in the middle of the tunnel to enjoy Faroese food and live music. In addition, a group of Icelandic participants was invited on a special visit to the companies Framherji and Bergfrost in Fuglafjørður. All of these visits were informative and successful, and guests were warmly welcomed everywhere.
Three companies from Kría’s investment portfolio participated in the conference: Sea Thru, Grænafl, and Sundra. These companies became part of the portfolio through Kría’s investment initiatives in 2023 and 2025.
During the conference, Drift EA, SSNE, and Hraðið jointly hosted an event with a particular focus on presenting the innovation ecosystem in Northeast Iceland. The Nordic Ignite innovation fund also participated in the conference this year, as in previous years, and Ragnheiður Magnúsdóttir took part in a panel discussion on behalf of the fund.
In total, Tonik featured 38 speakers from many countries, giving presentations on a wide variety of topics. Five of the speakers were from Iceland. A prominent theme throughout the talks was that small countries should think big, and that ideas originating outside major cities and densely populated countries can now, thanks to modern technology, grow into large and important international companies and projects.
Overall, Tonik 2026 was highly successful. It is clear that the Faroese have ambitious goals for innovation, including actively seeking knowledge and expertise from other countries. The conference creates opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants. The organization of the conference was excellent, and the Faroese proved to be exceptionally welcoming hosts.
Here are a few snapshots from the Faroe Islands.
