New PhD programme to increase the number of EPFL spin-offs

The goal of the new programme is to (i) increase the awareness of the PhD candidates – from the very beginning of their PhD studies - of the possibility to initiate a start-up, (ii) increase the number of PhD candidates who create a start-up and become an entrepreneur/innovator, and (iii) to increase the success of their start-ups once these have been created. To this end the EPFLinnovators programme will bring to excellent PhD candidates the appropriate training, experience, and guidance, to successfully start and develop their own company. A rich and comprehensive training programme is offered in combination with a long stay, of at least 6 months and up to 24 months, in the non-academic sector. The programme will result in a new type of “Industry-oriented PhD” at EPFL.

EPFLinnovators PhD studies may be held in any of the 19 doctoral programmes within the EPFL. According to the description of the programme on the EPFL website “the young researchers - to be trained in an academic as well as non-academic setting - will become true innovators, enforced with a broad set of scientific, transferable, and business skills.”

There will be 2 calls, each aimed at selecting 18 excellent PhD candidates, scheduled as follows:

• Call 1: Opening on 1 November 2017 and the deadline for the submission of applications is Monday 15 January 2018 (17:00 hr CET).
• Call 2: Opening on 1 February 2018 and the deadline for the submission of applications is Monday 16 April 2018 (17:00 hr CET).

Applications must be submitted via the online application platform. The EPFLinnovator’s remuneration follows the EPFL guidelines for Doctoral student’s salary.  The EU contribution to the salary of the doctoral candidate must therefore be completed by the thesis director.

(SK)