For Companies
In a global world where uncertainty is ever present, companies and institutions must react quickly to change and innovate in order to seize new opportunities, solve complex problems and bring value to society and people’s lives. To respond to the need of organisations to make a real impact, Politecnico di Milano recommends the Industrial Ph.D., i.e. a research doctor who investigates and explores a specific project or topic, working to quickly translate the results of the research into value for the organisation.
An Industrial Ph.D. can be developed from a junior profile, e.g. a recent graduate, by issuing a three-year thematic Ph.D. scholarship funded by a company in agreement with the doctoral programme.
Companies can also invest in the higher education of their own employees, by accessing the Executive Ph.D. 4-year programme, whereby the selected candidates can train, develop and complete a Ph.D. research at Politecnico di Milano, while holding their job and salary.
The Ph.D. programme includes both training, in the form of courses offered by the Ph.D. programme and the Ph.D. School, and research, that can be carried out in the company, in the Ph.D. department or in either organisations, depending on the type of agreement.
Challenges
Each Industrial Ph.D. project is based on specific needs of the organisation and is developed by applying university research skills and methods to challenging problems where innovative answers are needed.
Research Areas
The Ph.D. program aims at training people with high-level scientific profiles who intend to practice their major activities in the field of Bioengineering. The Ph.D. program in Bioengineering addresses theoretical and experimental activities in three major research areas:
More specific areas include but are not limited to: molecular and cellular engineering, biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, bio-artificial interfaces and devices, neuro-prostheses, movement analysis, cardiovascular and respiratory system bioengineering, central nervous system signal and image processing for rehabilitation, biomechanics, computational fluid-dynamics, computer assisted surgery and radiotherapy, robotics, artificial organs, implantable devices, biomedical signal and image processing, e-health, bioinformatics and functional genomics.
Research focuses on theoretical models, methods, and technologies to support design of applications, software and hardware systems, together with tools and prototype devices. The involvement of industrial and clinical partners reinforces the mix between theory and application, which is the strength of Ph.D. in Bioengineering.
Detailed list of research lines at DEIB and CMIC can be found in in the respective websites. Moreover, a detailed description of all past Ph.D. theses in Bioengineering is available in the Theses Yearbooks.
Thematic Ph.D. scholarships
How does it work?
To fund a three-year Ph.D. scholarship within the Ph.D. BIO programme, the company must sign an agreement with the DEIB or CMIC. The scholarship will then be issued in the first available public call for Ph.D. applications. Companies can exploit a tax credit for funded scholarships in Italy, according to the current law.
Executive Ph.D.
The Ph.D. School of the Politecnico di Milano admits industrial doctoral paths aimed at employees on whose higher education and personal growth the company or organization is willing to invest.
What is it?
Executive Ph.D. positions are available for employees of private companies or other external organizations. Executive Ph.D.’s keep their job and salary while pursuing the Ph.D. degree.
Candidates are evaluated by the Faculty Board and, if eligible, admitted directly in the Ph.D. programme, without a public call, under the signing of an agreement with the company. The duration of the Executive Ph.D. programme is 4 years.
The thesis topic and the related research workplan are established by mutual agreement between the company and the Ph.D. Faculty Board.
The Ph.D. candidate is co-supervised by a DEIB or CMIC professor and a tutor from the employer organization.
Benefits
The Executive Ph.D. is a unique growth opportunity both for the employee and the company. The former receives higher education training on methodological and technological topics as well as transversal skills and learns a research-oriented work methodology in a scientifically fertile environment, while maintaining his/her job and salary. The company, on the other hand, besides upgrading the employee’s knowledge and abilities, can exploit the Ph.D. executive programme to develop a research on a topic of interest to the company, that requires a medium/long time horizon to fully unfold, and that can later become a valuable innovation asset in the company’s portfolio.
Finally, with the apprenticeship contract for advanced education, the company has the opportunity to develop a research training programme and to recruit high quality young people. Active participation in research activities by its employees will foster innovation and lead to developments in innovative areas.
Interested companies can contact the secretariat of the Ph.D. programme in Bioengineering, or directly the professors with whom they wish to start a research collaboration.