The annual meeting of SFI Dsolve took place on 23–24 September in Fredrikstad. This year's host was research partner Norsus, who contributed academically, practically and socially to a successful event. In addition to two days of productive scientific discussions, the programme included a short ferry trip on the Glomma river and a guided tour of Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad's Old Town. The tour also passed by Håpets Katedral (the Cathedral of Hope), built from recycled ocean plastic.
With nearly six of its eight project years completed, SFI Dsolve is now entering its final phase. This was reflected throughout this year's meeting, which summarised the project's innovation status and value creation, as well as opened a discussion on how knowledge and experience from the SFI's work can be carried forward in the future. Among the topics on the agenda were opportunities for continued collaboration within the well-established consortium, in order to sustain the effort and focus on biodegradable material solutions for fisheries and aquaculture.
The meeting was also presented with the status and research results of the various PhD projects affiliated with the centre, and was briefed on progress in the different research areas of Dsolve. A plan for further priorities and milestones during the project's final two years was also discussed.
The annual meeting, which brought together around twenty national and international participants, concluded with a joint session with the centre's external advisors, focusing on future utilization of results and advice on the path towards realising Dsolve's goals and vision. Participants included Anne Katrine Normann (Center for the Ocean and the Arctic), Aida Campos (IMPA), Paul Winger (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Haraldur Arnar Einarsson (Marine and Freshwater Institute, Iceland), Maria Pettersvik Arvnes (The Norwegian Fishermen Association), Kim Sei-Hoon (S-Enpol, digitally) and Jure Brčić(University of Split).