Enhancing PhD cooperation with industry to drive European innovation

Today, the leading universities of science and technology united within CESAER, released a new report titled ‘Models of engagement for PhDs with non-academic partners.’

This report, developed under the leadership of our Task Force Innovation, highlights evolving models of engagement between PhD candidates and non-academic partners, such as industry. We focus on how these collaborations can enhance societal engagement, drive innovation, and promote disruptive advancements across Europe.

Authored by a team led by Yvonne Kinnaird from the University of Strathclyde, this report explores how partnerships between universities and non-academic entities—especially through "industrial doctorate” programs—can serve as key drivers of innovation. The recommendations outlined in the report provide a strategic roadmap for fostering stronger collaborations between universities, industry stakeholders , policymakers, and EU institutions to advance Europe’s leadership in research and innovation.

Key recommendations:

• To university leaders: enhance partnerships with industry to create more industrial doctorate opportunities and improve career pathways for PhD candidates.
• To industry partners: provide greater financial and practical support for industrial doctorate programs and collaborate with universities to tailor research training to industry needs.
• To policymakers: create supportive policies and funding mechanisms to strengthen industrial doctorate programmes and foster innovation across sectors.
• To EU institutions: expand funding for industrial doctorate initiatives through programs like Horizon Europe and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, while streamlining regulations for easier collaboration between academia and industry.

• The full report is available here for download and dissemination (PDF).

"Engagement of PhDs with non-academic partners, supported by programs like the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), are essential to fostering the next generation of researchers and innovators in Europe. The MSCA has been instrumental in attracting talented individuals and advancing research careers. However, to truly unlock the potential of these initiatives, we need to modernise research assessments, guarantee academic freedom, and implement new funding mechanisms. By strengthening these frameworks, we can ensure that PhD candidates are well-prepared to lead Europe’s future innovations and address global challenges."

-- Manuel Heitor (CESAER Envoy on Research Careers and Full Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico)

"Our findings offer a comprehensive blueprint for universities and industry to create meaningful partnerships, enabling PhD candidates to contribute to real-world problem-solving while advancing their academic careers."

-- Yvonne Kinnaird (lead author of the report, Secretary of Task Force Innovation and KE Policy & Outreach Manager at University of Strathclyde)

"This report highlights the critical role that industrial doctorates play in bridging the gap between academia and industry. By aligning academic research with real-world challenges, these partnerships not only enhance the career prospects of PhD candidates but also drive impactful innovation. To stay competitive and address global challenges, it is essential for universities and industry to collaborate closely, ensuring that the next generation of researchers is equipped to lead Europe’s future in research and innovation."

-- Tim Bedford (Vice-President of CESAER and Associate Principal for Research and Innovation at the University of Strathclyde)

For more information and media enquiries, please contact our Information & Communication Officer, Justine Moynat.

(c) Photo Guy Hinks