What is an Industrial PhD program?

An Industrial PhD program is a specific model for research, innovation, education and knowledge transfer that bridges the gap between academic research and industrial practice. This model enables PhD students to conduct their research in close collaboration with a company and an academic institution. It provides an ideal platform for executives to develop both academic and practical skills.

The program usually requires a triangular cooperation between the doctoral candidate, a university and a company. Doctoral students are often both enrolled at the academic institution and employed by the company. These programs are particularly popular in fields such as business and computer science, as they develop practical solutions to real-world problems.

The structure of the program varies by country and institution, but typically doctoral students spend the majority of their time at the company while being accompanied by an academic supervisor at the university. The research focus is on a topic that is both of strategic importance to the company and academically challenging. The dual approach ensures that the dissertation has both practical and academic relevance.

The doctoral students work directly on practical issues that are often of great importance to the company. This allows them to apply their research results directly and experience how their work influences business practice.

In contrast to traditional doctoral programs, Industrial PhD programs often offer a permanent position in the company, which guarantees financial stability during the doctorate.

Working in a company opens up valuable networking opportunities and improves career prospects. After completing the program, participants have often already gained a foothold in the company and have industry-relevant contacts.

PhD students benefit from working with professionals from different fields, which promotes the exchange of knowledge and the development of new perspectives.

An Industrial PhD program offers a unique opportunity to combine academic and practical skills. It is ideal for talents who want to conduct application-oriented research while advancing their career in industry. The close cooperation between universities and companies creates a fruitful exchange that benefits both science and industry.