Kerecis and Laufey received awards

The company Kerecis received the President’s Export Prize in 2024, which was awarded to CEO Gudmundur Fertram Sigurjónsson at a ceremony in Bessastaðir yesterday. The musician Lauf­ey Lín Jóns­dóttir was also honored for her international work.

For many years, Kerec­is has been producing grafts made from fish skin used to treat persistent wounds, for example, diabetes and burn wounds.

“The history of Kerecis began in 2007 when Sigurjónsson founded the company to make innovations in the field of medical devices or services,” was reported in an announcement from Business Iceland (Íslandsstofa).

“The revenue growth of Kerecis has been tremendous in recent years. In 2016, the company’s revenue was approximately half a million US dollars and has doubled every year since then. In 2023, revenue was approximately ISK 15 billion, or USD 110 million, and the company’s employees numbered approximately 600 at the end of last year.

In August 2023, a new chapter was written in the company’s history when the company was acquired by the Danish company Coloplast A/S for $1.3 billion. In this way, Kerecis is the first “ unicorn” in Icelandic business life – i.e., the first Icelandic start-up valued at more than one billion dollars.”

Laufey was awarded the honorary award

In addition, an honorary accolade is awarded annually to a person who has been credited with his work and achievements in Iceland’s cause around the world. This year’s winner was musician Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir, who was honored at Bessastaðir yesterday.

“At four years old, Lauf­ey started studying piano, and eight years old, she studied cello. She first appeared on the big stage when she played a solo concert at the Iceland Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas concert, at the age of 15. Singing had always been an interest as well and she started performing as a singer in her teens, including in TV shows like Iceland Got Talent and The Voice, where she reached the final,” the announcement reads. Lauf­ey was born in 1999.

“Lauf­ey released her first single, ‘Street by Street’ in 2020, and it was a hit on the radio. In 2021, she released her first short album, ‘Typical of me’ and a year later, her first album, ‘Everything I Know About Love’. Then, in September 2023, she released her second album, ‘Bewitched’. The album was instantly a huge success, becoming the second most-played album on Spotify – the best result for a jazz album in Spotify’s history. Today, her music has received close to two billion international plays.”

The purpose of the award is to raise awareness of the economic importance of foreign exchange and international trade and to honor those who have made particularly good progress in the sale and marketing of Icelandic goods and services abroad. The award was first presented in 1989.