"Our work matters. Industry needs research, and research needs industry", says Professor Kristin Falk of the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN).
She is head of the The Industrial Research School in Complex Systems (INRESCOS) at campus Kongsberg. Recently, the school was recognised by national and international partners during its annual conference.
The reason for this is the school's unique model, in which industry acts as a living laboratory where research takes place in practice. PhD candidates are given the opportunity to test theory directly on real problems from the industry.
In the process, they also gain access to valuable experience-based knowledge from industrial companies – insights that are often not formalised in written sources, but which are crucial for innovation and development.
Important link academia and industry
"The purpose of the conference is to bring together representatives from our partners to discuss how research collaborations can best be managed to create value for industry, academia and society as a whole. At the same time, this is an important arena for PhD candidates who receive valuable training in communicating their research in a way that is understandable to the general public," says project manager Monica Fagerlie.
Several partners at the gathering in Kongsberg emphasised the industrial school model as a key bridge between academia and industry.
Kjersti Salvesen Gjøsund, Director of Manufacturing Norway at TechnipFMC, and Bjørn Jalving, Chief Technology Officer at Kongsberg Maritime, provided industry perspectives on the value of industry-academia partnerships in driving innovation.
They emphasised that strong partnerships between business and research are crucial to solving complex challenges and strengthening industrial competitiveness.
Professor Heikki Handroos from LUT University demonstrated how doctoral training in Finland effectively connects academic research excellence with relevant industrial R&D challenges, contributing to accelerated industrial renewal in the machine industry.
Professor Maarten Bonnema from the University of Twente in the Netherlands presented the research approach "Industry as a Laboratory", which is precisely the approach used by the research school at Kongsberg.
The school is also recognised by the Norwegian government for how research can be integrated into industry to create new knowledge and new solutions.
Industry needs expertise
"The Industrial Research School is based on a unique interaction between academia and industry. The aim is to ensure that the PhD candidates‘ research is more relevant to working life, and to meet industry's need for cutting-edge competence in complex systems," explains Kristin Falk.
After three years in operation, she is pleased with the good recognition the school is receiving from industry and other partners.
"It's very gratifying to receive confirmation that our work, and the model we've chosen for the school, is making a difference. Our employees represent the best of both worlds – they have in-depth knowledge of the industry through long experience and they are experts in a number of subject areas. This enables us to meet the industry's need to understand and manage complex systems," says Falk.
The Industrial Research School is based on the industrial master's programme, which was started by USN in Kongsberg and has since been incorporated into several study programmes. Candidates are given access to research and work in companies to increase problem understanding and relevance.
The school also builds on the long experience of industrial PhD candidates at the University of Agder, and NTNU's professionalisation of research methods, which has helped the candidates to complete their studies on time.
Valuable research for Europe
Vice-rector for Research, Sustainability and Innovation at USN, Heidi Ormstad, believes the model can help strengthen collaboration between research and industry in Norway and throughout Europe.
"The Industrial Research School in Complex Systems ensures that the PhD candidates work closely with companies, so that their research meet real needs. And they collaborate across Europe, because tackling common challenges and driving innovation requires strong partnerships beyond national borders", she says.
Here's video from the annual conference 2025 of The Industrial Research School in Complex Systems at campus Kongsberg