INNOVATION
The industrial PhD programme |
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Rationale and objectivesThe Industrial PhD programme facilitates students at master level degree in a university to apply for a 3-year PhD course, where the student will work with a specific research related project employed by a commercial enterprise. Thereby, the Industrial PhD student combines the business world’s focus on tools and targets with in-depth scientific research on an international level. The host enterprise must be located in Denmark but there are no requirements to the nationality of the candidate or the university affiliated to the program.The purpose of the Industrial PhD programme is, firstly, to educate researchers at the highest level with an insight into business aspects of research and innovation. Secondly, the Industrial PhD programme strives to promote growth in the world of Danish business through closer collaboration on research and innovation between enterprises and universities. Finally, the programme strives to develop and strengthen the personal network between enterprises and researchers in Denmark and the rest of the world. Key activitiesThe enterprise is the project owner and the research project originates from a problem that is relevant to the enterprise. The PhD student is employed in the enterprise and works full-time on the research project, but divides his or her time equally between the enterprise and the university. The enterprise is allowed to select the university it wants to collaborate with itself, and the enterprise owns the intellectual property rights to the project.The universities are responsible for Industrial PhD education being at least on a par with a traditional PhD course. Thus, the university must give academic approval to the proposed project and the candidate, is responsible for project guidance and the course, and will be responsible for evaluating the completed PhD project. The students of the Industrial PhD programme are supervised by at least two supervisors, one from the research institution and one from the enterprise. An obligatory business course is integrated within the programme to prepare the student for drawing up a business report that presents the Industrial PhD project from a commercial point of view. Applications can be submitted in accordance with the 4 annual deadlines, and the assessment period is approx. 6 weeks. Allowances are granted for up to 120 projects every year. Funding informationExpenses for the enterprise, university fees and third party supervision are shared between the host enterprise and the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation reimburses up to 50 percent of the salary of the Industrial PhD and the cost of the university.For the Industrial PhD education, the universities receive €28,000 to $40,000 as compensation for their supervision assistance depending upon whether they are non-experimental or experimental PhD projects. Adding to the financial support for salaries and universities, an earmarked budget of €10,000 is available for the candidate’s participation in business oriented courses or conferences. If the candidate wishes to complete long term studies abroad of at least two months, allowances for board and lodging, university fees and journeys can be granted. OutcomesOver the years, around 1,500 PhD students have been enrolled in the programme. More than 90 percent of enterprises, universities and students are satisfied with the programme. The public sector investment was approximately €9 million in 2006 for around 90 Industrial PhD projects initiated. This also means that the expense to the public of Industrial PhD projects is less than half of an ordinary PhD.Employment opportunities of doctorates can be summarised as follows:
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The Industrial PhD programme was set up in the 1970s by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Denmark in order to support the recruitment of PhD students by the business sector and as a result foster the relationship between industry and science.
