Companies are playing an increasingly central role within PhD programs in Italy, particularly through industrial PhDs.
This type of doctorate represents a structured form of collaboration between universities and companies, with the aim of combining scientific research with practical applications in the productive sector.
Companies can contribute in several ways:
- Fully or partially funding PhD scholarships.
- Jointly defining the research project with the university, aligning it with shared objectives.
- Hosting the PhD candidate for part of the training pathway within their laboratories or offices.
- Participating in scientific supervision through the appointment of a company tutor.
- Gaining access to highly specialized expertise that fosters innovation in products, processes, and business models.
Industrial PhD under Ministerial Decree 226/2021
This type of PhD is regulated by a formal agreement between the university and the company. The research project is jointly designed, with both scientific and applied objectives, and includes activities carried out at both the university and the company. Funding may be shared among multiple partners, and companies investing in PhD scholarships may benefit from tax incentives.
Benefits for Universities and PhD Candidates
This collaboration generates several advantages, including promoting technology transfer and regional impact, enriching the PhD candidate’s training through concrete applied experiences, increasing employment opportunities for young researchers, and strengthening stable relationships between academia and industry.
Within the Translational PhD Program, collaborations have been established with companies that have fully funded or co-funded PhD scholarships, either independently or in co-financing with National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds:
- Istituto di Neuroscienze “Prof. Rocco A. Zoccali” - Reggio Calabria (sito)
- Fondazione Ri.MED – Palermo (sito)
- Laboratorio Farmaceutico ERFO S.p.A. – Villafranca Tirrena (sito)
- Laboratori Campisi S.r.l. – Avola (SR) (sito)
- C.O.T. Cure Ortopediche Traumatologiche S.p.a – Messina (sito)
- Istituto Oncologico del Mediterraneo S.p.A. (I.O.M.)- Viagrande (CT) (sito)
- UCB Pharma S.p.A. – Milano (sito)
- Hospitex International Srl – Sesto Fiorentino (FI) (sito)
- Scylla Biotech – Messina (sito)
- IRCSS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo” - Messina (sito)