In the past few weeks several new employees have joined RHA.  There are now 17 people in 13 full time positions at the institution in addition to RHA housing one position for the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. That position is held by Tómas Þór Tómasson who is working on the 2nd  stage of the Master plan for hydro and geothermal energy resources.

RHA, FMSÍ and UST have received funding from the European Union as participants of a project which is a part of a new Northern Periphery Programmer – NPP. The grant is 12,8 million isk and is distributed on a three year basis. Total amount of Icelandic part of the project is 25,3 million isk.  The Research Centre of the University of Akureyri is the head supervisor of the project ”North Hunt, Sustainable Hunting Tourism - business opportunity”. The project is collaboration between , , and (Newfoundland and Labrador ). The goal of the project is to support the development of sustainable hunting for the enhancement of the economy and residence with emphasis on the hunting culture. The emphasis is on the dissemination of experience and knowledge between participants and to explore the possibility of a joint marketing of the name ”Northern brand” for sustainable hunting. Other parties to the project include The Icelandic Tourism Research Centre, Wildlife management department of The Environment Agency and others.

Guðrún Rósa Þórsteinsdóttir is the new director of RHA - The Research Centre of the University of Akureyri, taking over from Jón Ingi Benediktsson who had been acting director for one year. Guðrún Rósa holds a Ph.D. from the Göteborg University and has worked at the Research Centre since 2006. At RHA she has supervised research assessment at the University of Akureyri, taken part in research studies and appraisal of distant learning in Iceland and abroad and worked as the director of the Northern Research Forum secretariat in Iceland.