8. Application content and assessment
Applications are sent to DASTI, but are assessed by the Programme Committee.
The application, the final Industrial PhD thesis and all other communication must be in either Danish or English.
Industrial PhD project in a private company
An application for an Industrial PhD project in the private sector must include:
- A clear research hypothesis or research questions for the project
- A description of the state-of-the-art for the project’s field of research
- A description of the project’s academic research news value and perspectives
- A project description divided into phases
- A knowledge dissemination plan (see section 13 on dissemination requirements)
- An account of the news value and commercial perspectives for the company
The commercial perspectives of a project can be prospects of direct or indirect economic gain. Indirect economic gain can be achieved by, for example:
- improving administrative efficiency,
- acquiring knowledge which increases the company’s revenue,
- strategically working towards establishing new products or markets, and/or
- development of long term concepts and/or strategies for the company.
Industrial PhD projects in a public institution
An application for an Industrial PhD project in a public institution must include:
- A clear research hypothesis or research questions for the project
- A description of the state-of-the-art for the project’s field of research
- A description of the project’s academic research news value and perspectives
- A project description divided into phases
- A knowledge dissemination plan (see section 13 on dissemination requirements)
Commercial perspectives are not required for Industrial PhD projects in the public sector. Instead, the application should describe the project’s news value and benefits to the institution, for example by:
- improving administrative efficiency,
- knowledge building which directly increases the institution’s competencies,
- systematic dissemination of knowledge, and/or
- strengthening the quality of the product/service provided by the institution.
A project where a public research institution employs the candidate and accordingly functions as the host company must account for how the project does not fall within already established fields of research in the institution.
Additional assessment criteria
The Programme Committee evaluates applications by the criteria listed above, as well as:
- whether the company/institution is able to professionally and financially support the project,
- whether the candidate is qualified to conduct a research project in the area specified,
- whether the university milieu is relevant to the specific project,
- whether the university supervisor is academically qualified to supervise the Industrial PhD student within the project’s field of research,
- whether there is a financial and professional distinction between the company and the university,
- whether it has been made likely that the project can be carried out within the framework specified.
Please note that it is only possible for the candidate to stay at the company’s non-Danish divisions for a total of up to two months as part of the project.
