Day 1 was mainly dedicated to presentations of status and recent progress in each of the SFI PhysMet Research Areas (RA), with general overviews from the research area managers and with examples of scientific highlights in each RA, from PhD candidates, Postdocs and SINTEF researchers – lot of nice and interesting presentations demonstrating the variety and breadth in our activities. Day 1 was rounded off with an informal buffet dinner in the same location as the meeting room – very convenient, which also gave ample time and possibilities both for informal and more scientific communication and discussions during/after dinner.

Day 2 started with an interesting and inspiring presentation of the software company Enodo, by PhD Johan Kolstø Sønstabø. Enodo was founded in 2018 and is a spin-off company from the Structural Impact Laboratory (SFI SIMLab / SFI CASA) at NTNU, and they specialize in finite element simulations with a focus on material non-linearity. Johan told about the partly troublesome and ‘winding road’ from the start to today, where they are a well-established and successful company with 6 employees, however, doing partly different things than they originally started out with.

We then had Group work discussions on the topic: The centre's work to facilitate the use of research results by research partners, user partners and others. We had already in advance of the meeting challenged the use partners to give examples of where SFI PhysMet research activities have been relevant and/or have had an impact on their businesses? During the discussions, also the following questions were discussed: (i) Areas of research where the SFI should be working to be more relevant for your R&I&D and Business? (ii) How can we together (Industry and academic researchers in the SFI) facilitate and improve transfer of Research Activities & Results to Industrial Development & Innovation? The discussions gave valuable input to the site visit from NFR to SFI PhysMet the week after, where also one of the main topics was ‘how results from SFI PhysMet are used and utilized by the industry partners.’

The technical meeting ended with a guided tour to different laboratory facilities at SINTEF Industry in Oslo, - for synthesis, processing and characterization of different materials.  A lot of interesting things to see and very competent and enthusiastic presenters. 

Thanks to our colleagues at SINTEF Industry, for their efforts and arrangements made in connection with our visit. They did a great job, and combined with the convenient location and the nice spring weather it was concluded that we would be more than happy to return to the same locations for an another similar occasion.