Industrial PhD

Applications are assessed by the Industrial Researcher Committee, which consists of both researchers and representatives from the business community. The committee reviews the applications and makes a recommendation. Innovation Fund Denmark makes the final decision.

The committee consists of members who represent both recognised researchers and experienced business profiles from the Danish private sector. The committee makes recommendations on the applications; ultimately, Innovation Fund Denmark makes the decision.

Members of The Industrial Researcher Committee

The application is assessed based on three main criteria:

• The quality of the idea
• Impact
• Quality of execution

Read more about the application criteria in the guidelines

You can expect to receive a response to your application within approximately three months after the application deadline. In some cases, it may take longer. You will receive the decision via e-grant.

When your project is approved, you will receive the grant award letter in e-grant. The company must then submit a signed acceptance, and the university must submit both a signed acceptance and documentation of enrolment (for PhD projects).

The project can only start once the grant has been awarded. If the award is conditional, you can only begin once the conditions have been met and the project has been finally approved. The project must start no later than six months after you have received the award.

Before the grant can be paid out, Innovation Fund Denmark must receive and approve the necessary documents.

For an Industrial PhD, you must submit documentation of enrolment in the PhD programme as well as signed acceptances from both the company and the university. The start date follows the enrolment period at the PhD school.

For an Industrial Postdoc programme, you must submit signed acceptances from the company and the research institution.

In both schemes, 85% of the grant is paid out at start-up, while the remainder is paid out when the project has been completed and the project partners have submitted final deliverables.

For both the Industrial PhD and the Industrial Postdoc, 85% of the grant is paid in advance to the company and the research institution at project start.

The remaining amount is paid out at the end of the project, once the required documents have been submitted and approved. For the Industrial PhD, this includes, among other things, final reporting, accounts, an auditor’s statement and documentation of the awarded PhD degree. For the Industrial Postdoc, final accounts, an auditor’s statement and a final project report are required.

Accounts and reporting must comply with the specified requirements and be submitted via e-grant. Remember to read the guidelines for all details and requirements.

When the project ends, a final report must be prepared.

In an Industrial Postdoc project, you complete the report together, whereas in an Industrial PhD it is the company that does so. The report covers what the project has resulted in and how it has progressed.

You will be notified via e-grant, where you will also find the report template.