About NKG

NKG is an innovation competition for primary schools

The NKG is an idea competition for students in the 5th to 7th grade in Icelandic primary schools. The student’s work takes place in the participating schools around Iceland during the school year. The students receive instructions on how to develop a project from an idea to reality in their field of interest. This process activates the creative power of students and rational thinking, enhancing their self-esteem and resourcefulness.

NKG starts in the autumn and ends in the spring with a workshop, where participants in the finals have an opportunity to realise their ideas further with the help of instructors from the University of Iceland, the University of Reykjavík and other partners. Following the workshop, the finals take place and the President of Iceland delivers a grand prize and recognition papers.

The owner of the NKG competition is the Ministry of Education Science and Culture. The Innovation Center Iceland is in charge of managing the competition in collaboration with the University of Reykjavik, University of Iceland, Educational Institute, the Association of Icelandic Municipalities, Arion Bank, the Federation of Industries, ELKO, IKEA, compulsory school, and others.

The purpose of NKG

• Enable the creativity of children in the country

• Make children aware of their own creativity and develop it through their work on own ideas

• Promote and develop the resourcefulness of NKG participants, strengthen their self-esteem

• Promote innovation in elementary schools and raise awareness of the children’s ingenuity in schools and industry

The goal of NKG

• Make the individual aware of his creativity and develop it through working on own ideas

• Promote and develop the student’s initiative in order to strengthen the students’ self-esteem

• Promote innovation in elementary schools and raise awareness of the children’s ingenuity in schools and industry

Vision of NKG

• Increase number of schools involved – all primary school students should have the opportunity to submit an idea

• That there will be a dedicated person at every elementary school that receives data and informs both teachers and students at their school

• To secure funding for the future in partnership with the ministry, organizations and companies