On Wednesday, June 15, the IRIS research library was officially opened at the National Library. Addresses were given by Sara Stef. Hildardóttir, IRIS project manager who opened the website, Berglind Fanndal Káradóttir, project manager at RANNÍS, Ingibjörg Steinunn Sverrisdóttir, National Librarian, and Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Higher Education, Industry and Innovation.

IRIS (The Icelandic Research Information System) is an information system based on the PURE software from Elsevier. The system shows the research activities of Icelandic universities and institutions that are members of it. The opening of the system increases visibility, overview and access to information about research in Iceland and therefore marks a certain turning point. The National Library of Iceland – University Library operates IRIS, but the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture purchased the system and entrusted the library with its management.

IRIS provides an opportunity to examine research activity and the social distribution of knowledge generated by research in Iceland. The system allows users to examine the research contributions of individual institutions, academics, artists and scientists, as well as their participation in international collaboration. IRIS is an evolving information system that will change as the project progresses.

At launch, all universities in the country will be members of the system, as well as Landspítali, the Árni Magnússon Institute of Icelandic Studies, and the University of Iceland Experimental Station in Pathology at Keldur. The aim is for all public research institutions to become members of the system within a few years.