Young Researcher Innovation Days – YRID, is a new FME BATTERY activity for the young researchers, particularly PhD fellows but also postdocs and early career researchers.
Gathering over three days, 5-7 May in Kristiansand, we discussed how to progress new ideas into applications and applied product. 20 researchers presented some of their recent work as well as 8 companies talking about their works as well as needs for solutions and competencies.
Joint interests in innovation
As the largest university in Norway, and the technical and scientific University, it is very natural that NTNU has a core and central strategic focus on energy. TEAM BATTERY is a part of this strategic focus. Senior researcher as well as younger researchers constitute this team. At TEAM BATTERY, we have established a graduate chapter, consisting of PhDs, postdoctoral fellows and early career researchers. They organize workshops several times a year, and they urge to meet with industry.
FME BATTERY focus on the entire value chain of batteries, much like the NTNU TEAM BATTERY does. FME BATTERY has a national inclusion of researchers and industry, whereas TEAM BATTERY has inclusion of NTNU researchers only. FME BATTERY is partly funded via industry and has a separate industry driven committee – the FME BATTERY Innovation Committee. They have an urge to work with the young research talents in Norway.
With two groups urging to meet and interplay with each other, the young research innovation days – YRID – was a natural outcome. Talking about research done in academia for graduates of TEAM BATTERY as well as more talents from FME BATTERY in collaboration with key industrial players represents dreams coming true for both sides; the university and centre side on the one hand and the industry on the other.
Commercialisation pathways and technology readiness
With YRID2026, we were all very enthusiastic about gathering for a two day workshop as well as to go out and explore several industry sights on a third day. Also having TTO (Technology Transfer Office) warming up the day with examples of commercialisation pathways as well as talking about the Innovation Readiness Level (IRL) as an extension of the more commonly used Technology Readiness Level (TRL) set the scene for the many things to think about beyond typical academic research activities.
From small scale to real impact
Thematic sessions following the value chain of batteries were opened by relevant industries and followed by more academic research talks, including discussions and questions in between. Several social events also took place around the event, and gathering the innovation committee, the board alongside so many young researchers led to inspiring and interesting discussion over lunch and dinner these first two days.
On the third day, the young researchers got to visit key and relevant industries in the area around Kristiansand, placing lots of small scale and early stage research into a rather holistic and real picture of what impact can actually be.
About the author
Professor Odne Burheim is leader of NTNU TEAM BATTERY and dep. dir. of FME BATTERY.