3rd June 2026
3rd June 2026
€2.5 million for the development of sustainable ammonia production – an important milestone for Icelandic innovation and green technology
Dr Helga Dögg Flosadóttir, CEO and co-founder of the innovation company Atmonia, led a successful €2.5 million grant application to the European Innovation Council's (EIC) EIC Transition fund. This is the first time an Icelandic project has received a grant from the EIC Transition fund.
The project concerns the continued development of new technology to produce ammonia from air and water in an environmentally friendly way.
Atmonia was founded in 2016 based on research from the University of Iceland and the Innovation Centre Iceland. The company is developing a patented electrochemical method for producing ammonia that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional production. Ammonia is one of the world's most important raw materials for fertiliser production, but its production today is largely based on energy-intensive processes that use fossil fuels.
The project that received the grant is called EASY (Electrocatalytic Ammonia SYnthesis) and aims to accelerate the development of the technology towards commercialisation and lay the foundation for a new generation of sustainable ammonia production. The project partners come from four countries. In addition to Atmonia, the Agricultural University of Iceland, VITO in Belgium, TEGA in Germany, and EcoVibes in Greece are participating.
This grant is an important recognition of the research and development work that has taken place at Atmonia in recent years. It allows us to accelerate the development of the technology and move closer to our goal of offering more sustainable solutions with a shorter value chain for fertiliser production and other uses of ammonia. A shorter value chain is the key to fertiliser security, says Helga Dögg Flosadóttir, CEO of Atmonia.
EIC Transition is one of the three main pillars of the European Innovation Council, along with EIC Pathfinder and EIC Accelerator. EIC Transition is intended for projects that have already demonstrated a scientific or technological basis and need support to develop further towards application and commercialisation. The grant to Atmonia therefore marks a milestone for Icelandic participation in European innovation programmes.
This grant is an important confirmation that Icelandic companies and researchers can succeed in Europe's most competitive funds. EIC Transition grants are awarded after a rigorous international evaluation process where only the very best are successful. This success is a clear example of the opportunities available to Icelandic innovation companies in the Horizon Europe programme, says Mjöll Waldorff, an expert at Rannís and project manager for the Enterprise Europe Network in Iceland.
Dr Helga Dögg Flosadóttir, CEO and co-founder of the company Atmonia.