From 11 to 13 August 2026, 34 researchers from Norway, Japan, South Korea and Nigeria met in Ålesund for the Tømte Symposium 2026, an international scientific meeting focused on biological interfaces, microbial adhesion, biofilms and nature-inspired materials research.
Supported by the Tømte Foundation of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the symposium brought together expertise from biomaterials science, microbiology, biomedical engineering, biotechnology and clinical research. More than half of the participants were early-career researchers, creating opportunities for scientific exchange across generations and disciplines.
Learning from nature
A central question guided the symposium: What can we learn from natural interfaces when designing technological surfaces that reduce unwanted microbial adhesion?
Whether in medical implants, industrial materials or engineered surfaces, interactions between materials and living systems begin immediately. Proteins, cells and microorganisms quickly colonise surfaces, influencing both function and long-term performance.
Presentations highlighted research on biomaterials, tissue engineering, microbial interactions and innovation strategies. Key contributions were delivered by researchers from Dongguk University (South Korea), Nagoya University (Japan), Edo State University (Nigeria) and the University of Oslo.
A meeting place for international collaboration
The symposium was hosted at Hotel Brosundet in Ålesund, providing an intimate setting for scientific presentations, discussions and strategic workshops.
Participants discussed methodological challenges, opportunities for joint research projects and the importance of responsible international collaboration. The programme explored how different disciplines define and measure concepts such as adhesion, compatibility and resistance, laying the groundwork for future collaborative studies.
The international composition of the group enabled researchers to compare approaches, research cultures and scientific priorities while identifying common challenges across fields.
Hjørundfjorden as a field of reflection
One of the symposium’s most distinctive elements was a field-based reflection session in Hjørundfjorden.
Rather than serving as a backdrop, the natural surroundings became part of the scientific conversation. Researchers observed dynamic interactions between water, rock surfaces, biological material and environmental conditions, using these observations as inspiration for new research questions.
The fjord journey reinforced an important insight: surfaces do not exist in isolation. They are continuously shaped by changing environmental conditions, just as technological materials are influenced by complex biological systems.
“A successful technological surface must be understood as part of a living and dynamic system, not simply as a finished material", says project manager professor Håvard Haugen.
Supporting the next generation of researchers
An important goal of the symposium was to strengthen international networks for students, doctoral candidates and other early-career researchers.
With 18 of the 34 participants classified as younger researchers, the event provided opportunities for discussions that often fall outside traditional conference programmes: research ethics, authorship, data practices, career development, international mobility and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The informal setting allowed senior researchers and early-career scientists to engage in open conversations about both scientific challenges and professional development.
Looking ahead
The symposium did not aim to generate experimental results. Instead, it created a shared framework for future research.
- Discussions identified several promising directions for collaboration, including:
- Dynamic surface transformations over time
- Combined effects of surface chemistry and topography
- Robust anti-adhesion strategies under varying environmental conditions
- Development of comparable methodologies across laboratories
The next step will be to translate these ideas into focused pilot studies and collaborative research projects involving partners from multiple institutions and countries.
