The SFI CELECT Annual Event brought together partners from across academia and industry for a day dedicated to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and discussions on the future of AI-supported engineering and product development.
Inspiring Keynote from DTU
A key highlight of the event was the keynote presentation by Professor Josef Oehmen from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), who shared insights into the development of a Systems-Engineering AI Lab. The presentation demonstrated how artificial intelligence can support systems engineering processes and accelerate innovation in complex technological environments.
PhD Candidates
Six new SFI CELECT's PhD candidates presented their research projects, demonstrating both the breadth and ambition of the centre's research activities.
- PhD candidate Ole Tobias Næss (UiA): “Agentic AI for parallell hardware-software co-design in mechatronics engineering”
- PhD candidate Gabriele Castagnetti (NTNU): “AI-supported Knowledge-Based decision making for New Product Development (NPD) processes”
- PhD candidate Alessio Pinto (NTNU): “Knowledge-Based Development (KBD) for Instant Decision Support in digitally supported NPD processes”
- PhD candidate Elena Covone (NTNU): “Human‑centric AI decision-support tools for analysing and designing efficient and sustainable value streams across various complex industrial supply chains”
- PhD candidate Maher Mora (NTNU) “Generative AI for Systematic Concept and Architecture Exploration in Early-stage Product- and System Design”
- PhD candidate Emil Lie Nesheim-Hauge (NTNU): “AI integration, organizational dialogue and transdisciplinary leadership/collaboration in digitally supported NPD processes / complex innovation systems”
A particular inspiring contribution came from Linn M. Sandvold (USN) who is pursuing a PhD while working full-time as an Department Manager in Systems Engineering at KONGSBERG. Her project investigates how product development in complex defense systems can be accelerated through a framework built on a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying development processes.
Interactive Workshop: Exploration of the match between research topics and industry
The workshop was designed to strengthen the connection between ongoing research and the needs of industry partners. The participants gathered around thematic tables and work package posters to discuss concrete industrial challenges and opportunities for collaboration. Industry representatives were invited to identify specific problems that could potentially be addressed through doctoral research, ranging from process improvements and cost reductions to the testing of new technologies. The workshop provided valuable feedback for the PhD candidates and research teams, while also helping partners identify where ongoing SFI CELECT research may contribute to solving real-world challenges.
Building a Shared Research Agenda
The workshop demonstrated one of the key strengths of SFI CELECT: bringing together researchers and industry partners to jointly define future research directions. By discussing challenges, opportunities, and potential use cases face-to-face, participants were able to identify new connections between ongoing research projects and industrial needs.
We thank all speakers, partners, researchers, and PhD candidates for their valuable contributions and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the year ahead.