The Doctoral School: Turn your thesis into a startup
The EIT Manufacturing Doctoral School supports PhD students in transforming their research results or patents into marketable solutions.
The programme involves PhD students from our partner universities and may include collaboration with industry partners from the EIT Manufacturing community which help create an industrial doctorate position. These partners come from a variety of sectors such as automotive, aerospace, process industry, machinery and equipment, electronics, Information and Communication Technologies or medical technologies.
The EIT Manufacturing Doctoral School is a complementary programme on top of the PhD studies at one of our partner universities (scroll down to know our partner universities). This Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) programme from us is an international two-year education focused on manufacturing innovation and entrepreneurship. The educational experience is enriched through five months, in which students are given the opportunity to move in academic and non-academic environments.
Programme overview
The I&E programme is categorised into 2 tracks allowing PhD students follow the track that is most suitable for their professional career. Our selection committee will identify the suitable track based on your application.
Track 1: Awareness and Orientation track
The Awareness and Orientation track within the I&E Program is designed for PhD students not currently planning immediate entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial projects. It is a two-year programme.
Track 2: Business Creation track
The Business Creation track in the I&E Program is designed for PhD students with a specific interest in developing their own entrepreneurial business idea. This track comprises two one-year programmes.
In both the tracks, students focus on learning “How to Develop a Business Idea”, in the first year and in the second year, they delve into “How to Validate a Business Idea and Prepare for a Launch”. What differentiates the tracks is that, in the Business Creation track, students will have a 1-to-1 mentoring session from our experts who will assist you in every step of your business creation.
Programme structure
The methodology of the I&E programme in both tracks and in both years is based on Design Thinking principles. Our programme mirrors the standard 5 phases, from empathizing to testing, as per the Stanford d.School methodology. Additionally, we have integrated two more phases into our roadmap:
- Self-discovery
- Pre-launch.
Throughout these stages, business creation methodologies are enhanced by generating scientific and technological knowledge and practical application. Students/teams are provided with manufacturing mentors to guide them through the innovation process, making our programme distinct, comprehensive, and particularly focused on manufacturing.
The EITM Doctoral School requires the PhD student to complete:
- 30 ECTS of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) activities
- 15 ECTS of international mobility
- 15 ECTS of cross-sectorial mobility
For more details about ECTS, kindly check in our application portal.
The EIT label certificate 
Along with the PhD degree from our partner universities, all our students are Awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The EIT Label is a certificate of quality and excellence for educational programmes that are focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and leadership.
Programme schedule
The I&E programme take place from April to December every year.They are delivered in blended mode with online activities along the year and three on site events as below:
- Spring School: April 3 to 16, 2024 in Bratislava (Slovakia)
- Summer School: July 2024
- Winter School: November 25 to December 6, 2024 in Porto (Portugal)
- Manufacturing Innovation Webinars: May 30 to Dec 13, 2024 (Online)
Summer School
2 weeks onsite programme
The EITM Doctoral Summer School on Smart Systems for Resilient Manufacturing (SSRM) and Market Exploration offers participants a stimulating learning by doing experience during which they will discuss their research results in the Summer Symposium, international lecturers provide state-of-the-art knowledge and entrepreneurship experts will guide you along a Market Exploration Bootcamp to develop innovative business ideas.
Note: This was the topic for the programme in 2023
Winter School
2 weeks onsite programme
The EITM Doctoral Winter School on Innovation Ecosystem & Business Design offers participants with the skills and knowledge to design and develop business ideas that align with their professional and personal backgrounds while exploring how cutting-edge technologies and emerging business trends are implemented in an industrial setting
Note: This was the topic for the programme in 2023
Last day to apply: November 3, 2024
Manufacturing Innovation Webinars
6 webinars
As part of the Doctoral School programme, students will also have 6 innovation webinars on various topics of manufacturing such as Digital, Ethical, Sustainable, Supply Chain Maufacturing, etc. providing an in-depth understanding of these topics which is an essential step to move towards innovative, modern and sustainable manufacturing techniques.
Learn more
As part of the Doctoral School programme, students will also have 6 innovation webinars on various topics of manufacturing such as Digital, Ethical, Sustainable, Supply Chain Maufacturing, etc. providing an in-depth understanding of these topics which is an essential step to move towards innovative, modern and sustainable manufacturing techniques.
Learn more
How to apply to global Doctoral School
Application deadline: february 15, 2024More information on EIT Manufacturing website
