Karl Friðriksson, MSc
Karl Friðriksson, MSc is an Icelandic executive, currently serving as the CEO and Cofounder of The Iceland Centre for Future Studies (Framtíðarsetur Íslands). He is the Managing Director of Human Resources and Marketing and a Competitiveness Specialist at Innovation Center Iceland. He also contributes to academia as an Adjunct Lecturer at Bifröst University.
His extensive career demonstrates a significant trajectory through leadership positions primarily within the financial, information services, and strategic foresight sectors.
Since joining The Icelandic Centre of Future Studies in December 2016, Karl has led the organization as its CEO. He shaped its mission to focus on strategic foresight and future studies. The Centre is crucial in equipping Icelandic companies and public sector organizations with the tools and insights needed to anticipate and navigate future trends, challenges, and opportunities effectively.
In his current role at Innovation Center Iceland, Karl draws upon extensive expertise cultivated over decades in marketing and product development across Icelandic and international markets. He also acts as the Center’s designated contact person in Iceland for the World Economic Forum, highlighting his role in connecting Icelandic innovation with global economic discussions.
In parallel with his work at the Centre, Karl has shared his practical expertise within an academic setting as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Bifröst University, where he teaches a course on Future Studies. This role allows him to bring valuable real-world leadership and business insights into the classroom, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry practice.
As a consultant, Karl has guided numerous Icelandic companies and municipalities. His consulting work focuses on structuring robust product development processes and overseeing projects from the initial idea stage through to the market launch strategy. He advises on strategic planning, the application of future studies, cluster development initiatives, and the use of applied benchmarking to enhance organizational performance.
Karl has authored numerous articles and lectures widely on management topics. He has been involved in the publication of several books and journals. Notable book contributions include authoring Product Development: From Idea to Result, published in 2004, which was the first specialized book on product development in Iceland. He also coauthored two significant works, The Future – From Uncertainty to Results, published in 2007, which explored the use of scenarios in strategic planning, and Managing Product Development – Methodology and Results, published in 2009.
Karl holds several professional certifications that underscore his expertise. He is a Certified International Project Manager accredited by the Project Management Association in Iceland and a Professional Project Development Facilitator certified by the Product Development & Management Association (PDMA) in the USA. More recently, he completed the Train the Trainers program to become a Certified Cluster Expert via the European Foundation for Cluster Excellence.
Karl earned his Master’s Degree of Science in Economics from London University.
Karl’s career path consistently focuses on leadership, strategy, and finances, evolving towards helping organizations prepare for the future. He is a member of the World Futures Studies Federation and Iceland Node Co-Chair of The Millennium Project
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