Networking and 20th anniversary at FSCN Days

Over two half-days, around 90 researchers and company representatives gathered. Popular science research lectures followed one another, interspersed with opportunities for conversation and to take part in more research results and new materials in the exhibition space.

"It is so important for us at FSCN to be able to invite and meet our partners and be inspired together. We really want to show the breadth of our research, with the hope that it will lead to more collaborations," says Birgitta Engberg, centre director at FSCN.

Valuable networking

Several participants highlighted networking as one of the most valuable parts of the FSCN days.

"It means a lot to be able to meet in this way – both to make business contacts and to meet new researchers who have joined FSCN. The FSCN days provide a unique combination of information about current research and opportunities to create new collaborations," says Britta Andres, research and development engineer at 2Dfab.

Ove Nordin, team leader at Nouryon's research and development department, also emphasized networking as a central part of the event. He also appreciated the structure of the many research presentations.

"FSCN's broadening towards new materials and processes, as well as the additional physics specialisation, has made the collaboration even more interesting for us. Not everything may be directly applicable to our research, but it provides ideas about different approaches in development work," he says.

New project presented

During the FSCN days, a new major research and development project was also presented in which Mid Sweden University participates through FSCN. Hans Pehrson and Anneli Wärn from the companies Polestar and Borgstena, both of which are part of the consortium behind Mission 0 House, talked about the project.

"It's really interesting to be here at the FSCN days. Since bio-raw materials are an obvious part of the future when it comes to phasing out fossil raw materials, I see it as obvious that we should work together," Anneli Wärn stated.

In addition to research and networking, the FSCN days also included a celebration of Mid Sweden University's 20th anniversary. There was also a historical look back at how FSCN was formed 25 years ago and its importance for Mid Sweden University to gain university status. All three centre leaders of all time – Myat Thun, Kaarlo Niskanen and Birgitta Engberg – were interviewed on stage by moderator Linnea Kibe and shared FSCN's journey to today's research centre.

"The research centre has changed and developed over these 25 years – and we will continue to do so. Our goal is to conduct relevant research, and that means that we must constantly develop," Birgitta Engberg stated.