Advania buys Evolv Robotics to boost Iceland automation

Advania has acquired Icelandic automation specialist Evolv Robotics, adding 30 automation engineers to the group.

The deal also establishes Advania's first dedicated automation delivery unit in Iceland as the Northern European IT services provider expands its work in artificial intelligence and business automation.

Evolv develops systems that automate complex business processes across a range of sectors. It serves more than 100 customers in Iceland, with tools used in live production environments for tasks including financial operations and customer workflows.

The purchase is intended to strengthen Advania's ability to offer AI and automation services from infrastructure to deployment. It has been building sovereign AI cloud services designed to give customers access to AI tools while retaining control over sensitive data.

The move comes as more companies try to shift AI projects from trials into routine operations, increasing demand for suppliers that can implement systems in ways that meet data sovereignty and compliance requirements.

Henrik Foyn-Laukvik, Head of M&A at Advania, said customers were seeking more practical support. "Our clients are asking for help navigating AI, but they need more than infrastructure.

They need partners who can help them identify where AI creates value, implement it in ways that actually work, and ensure it operates within their data sovereignty and compliance requirements. Evolv's team brings the automation engineering expertise that turns AI infrastructure into deployed solutions."

Local unit

Under the new structure, Evolv will operate as an autonomous automation delivery unit within Advania Iceland. The business will continue serving existing customers while also contributing to the development of Advania's wider AI and automation work across its other markets.

Evolv's management team is joining Advania as part of the transaction. The purchase is Advania's first acquisition in Iceland in more than a decade.

Advania operates across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the UK and Ireland. It employs about 5,000 people and works with mid-market businesses and public sector organisations on IT advisory, implementation and managed services.

The deal also reflects Advania's push to combine infrastructure with software deployment skills at a time when businesses are placing greater emphasis on operational resilience and regulatory control over data. In practice, that means linking cloud-based AI services with automation systems that can handle daily business tasks.

For Evolv, the deal provides a route into a broader regional platform. Its founders said the company's work has been moving towards more advanced forms of automation that can process natural language and handle less structured information.

"We've always been building toward more intelligent automation that can handle ambiguity, process natural language, and make contextual decisions," said Eyþór Logi Þorsteinsson and Sigurður Davíð Stefánsson, Founders of Evolv.

"Joining Advania gives us access to sovereign AI infrastructure and the platform to deploy these capabilities more broadly across enterprise environments."

Hege Støre, Chief Executive Officer of Advania, said the acquisition also adds specialist talent to the company's Iceland operation. "The Evolv team represents a new generation of technology specialists in Iceland. Their ambition and agility bring valuable momentum to Advania Iceland, while their specialist expertise in automation further strengthens our overall capabilities. We look forward to combining their drive with our long-standing experience and customer relationships."

The transaction has been approved by the Icelandic Competition Authority.