1. What is an Industrial PhD?
An Industrial PhD education is a three-year research project and research training programme with an industrial focus conducted jointly by a private company, an Industrial PhD student and a university. The student is employed by the company and enrolled at the university.
The aim of the Industrial PhD Programme is to:
- educate researchers at a PhD level with knowledge of industrial aspects of research and innovation,
- create growth in the Danish business community through the promotion of coorporation on research and innovation between universities and Danish privately held companies, and
- facilitate knowledge transfer and networking between Danish companies and researchers at universities in Denmark and abroad.
Public institutions may also apply for approval of an Industrial PhD project. If funding has been allocated for this particular purpose, public institutions may apply for subsidy at indicated application rounds, to be announced beforehand at www.erhvervsphd.dk. If no funding has been allocated, public institutions must defray all expenses for the education, including expenses for enrolment and supervision at the university, cf. section 6.
Regulations on PhD educations are established in the Executive Order No. 18 of January 14, 2008 regarding PhD programmes at universities (the PhD Executive Order). The provisions of the Guidelines for the Industrial PhD Programme contain the funding requirements of the Industrial PhD Programme, which is financed by the Danish Council for Technology and Innovation (The Council).
Significant changes since last edition of the guidelines
Commercial perspectives
The requirement for commercial perspectives in an Industrial PhD project has been strengthened compared to before. See more in section 8.
Duty to disclose all material facts and academic reporting
Academic reporting is no longer required. Instead, increased emphasis will be placed on subsidy recipients’ duty to disclose all material facts. See more in section 12.
Subsidy for stays in Denmark and abroad
In projects approved hereafter, subsidy is no longer provided for food expenses for stays in Denmark and abroad. See more in section 10.
