Professor Nadimul Faisal, Robert Gordon University, was part-funded by the Arctic Travel and Partnerships Fund to visit collaborators in Gothenburg working on hydrogen research in the Arctic and Nordic. Read about his experiences below:

In March 2026, I travelled to Sweden as part of the Scottish Arctic Network (ScAN) Arctic Travel and Partnerships Fund. I departed on 3 March and returned on 5 March 2026, with visits to University West in Trollhättan and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. The aim of the visit was to strengthen international collaborations and explore hydrogen research partnerships aligned with Arctic and Nordic priorities, with a particular focus on advanced materials and manufacturing for energy systems. As the visit took place during the month of Ramadan, it also provided a meaningful opportunity to experience cultural aspects alongside academic engagement, including enjoying Iftar at Sultan Kolgrill Göteborg, which added a memorable personal dimension to the trip.

On the way to Sweden, I visited Brunel University London on 2 March 2026, where I discussed hydrogen research and collaboration opportunities with Dr Myles Worsley and Dr Averil Horton as part of EPSRC funded METASIS 2.0 (UKRI3156) research engagement. These discussions provided a strong foundation for broader UK–Nordic collaboration, particularly in the context of materials innovation for hydrogen production and utilisation.

At University West, I met with Professor Shrikant Joshi, Dr Ameey Anupam, Dr Mohit Gupta, and Stefan Björklund to discuss research in advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and thermal spray technologies. We explored how thermal spray processes and additive manufacturing can be leveraged to fabricate multi-material architectures with tailored microstructures for improved durability and performance in harsh industrial environments. 

At Chalmers University of Technology, I met with Professor Uta Klement and Dr Ahmed Fardan Jabir Hussain to further explore advanced materials research, particularly in high-temperature materials, and additive manufacturing. During this visit, I also delivered a talk titled “Residual Stress Measurement for Sustainable High Value Coatings”, highlighting advanced characterisation techniques and their importance in improving coating performance and reliability. These engagements will support the development of a joint Horizon proposal and strengthened institutional links.

As part of the visit, I also organised and co-moderated a ScAN-supported METASIS webinar titled “High-temperature electrolysis for net-zero hydrogen: Bridging UK–Nordic research” on 9th March 2026. The webinar brought together leading speakers including Professor Odne Stokke Burheim (NTNU, Norway), Dr Ashish Ganvir (University of Turku, Finland), Dr Rafael Nogueira Nakashima (Technical University of Denmark), Professor Jan Froitzheim (Chalmers University of Technology), and Professor Shrikant Joshi (University West), creating a platform for knowledge exchange and future collaboration.

Overall, the visit was highly productive, highlighting strong interest in Arctic hydrogen research, particularly in advanced materials, manufacturing, and engineering solutions for challenging environments. It has laid the foundation for ongoing collaboration, joint funding applications, and future research initiatives. 

I am now planning to visit Finland as part of my next phase of engagement to further strengthen UK–Nordic collaboration in this field.