How we work

Cooperation and interaction between SIMLab partners

The annual work plans for each programme are defined through contributions from each partner. Scientists from NTNU and SINTEF as well as PhD students and post docs are the main contributors, while each industrial and public partner participates based on their pre-defined contribution in kind. NPRA, Audi and Renault's contribution is ensured through PhD students who divide their time between the centre and their respective host industrial partner. Furthermore, NDEA has physically located a scientist at the centre, who maintains close contact with NDEA's research and development group in Oslo.

Strengthening cooperation within the research groups

SIMLab uses intensive workshops and seminars to build consensus and understanding within and between the research groups and partners. The seminar participants — researchers and center staff from NTNU and SINTEF — define work-plans and discuss the roles played by each scientist. Another variant is the one-day partner workshop. The goal is to hold such partner seminars annually.

Telephone and project meetings

In order to strengthen the involvement of the international partners as well as the interaction between all partners, each research programme organises 1-3 telephone meetings annually, where the progress and obtained results have been discussed. Slide presentations disseminated prior to the actual meetings are used as a basis for the discussion.

Fostering innovation - cooperation with firms of all sizes

While the centre's primary users/partners are large Norwegian and international companies and governmental bodies with extensive in-house research, SIMLab is also interested in fostering innovation in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The Centre works closely with Impetus Afea, which is a small enterprise specializing in the behaviour and modelling of protective structures. (SRM and Impetus are not partners in the Centre at this time.)

Furthermore, active participation by SINTEF scientists in the centre ensures that open technology becomes readily available to the Norwegian industry through contract research.

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