The Industrial Doctorate Plan (DI Plan), a strategic instrument of the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, has published its 2024 Activity Report , confirming the consolidation and growth of the program as a key tool for knowledge transfer and innovation in Catalonia . The year 2024 closed with a record number of 149 new research projects awarded, promoted by 121 companies and institutions in collaboration with the Catalan research ecosystem.
As highlighted by the Minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, in welcoming the publication, 2024 has been “ a year of successes and records ” that has allowed extraordinary results to be achieved. The Minister emphasizes that the program illustrates “ a very interesting duality: the ability to incorporate new companies and institutions into the DI Plan, and at the same time maintain those that have already been part of it and have identified the added value of actively collaborating with the Catalan research and university ecosystem .”
Outstanding results of the 2024 call
The data from the latest call reflects the vitality of the DI Plan. Of the 121 participating companies and institutions, 61% have done so for the first time , demonstrating the program's capacity to expand its impact on the productive fabric. SMEs continue to be the main driver, representing 42% of the grants awarded.
For his part, the academic director of the DI Plan, Albert Sangrà, points out in his assessment that this success is the result of intense promotional activity, with more than 50 dissemination actions carried out. Sangrà also highlights the quality and diversity of the talent involved: 69% of the research staff who supervise theses have participated in the program for the first time and 17% of the doctoral students are international . In addition, the growth of projects in the field of social sciences, arts and humanities is consolidated, which already represent 12% of the total for the year. This introductory assessment also includes the conclusions of the impact assessment of the DI Plan (2013-2018 period), which confirms a high degree of satisfaction among all agents, a high employability rate (three out of four PhDs continue in the company once the project has ended) and a notable scientific and patent production.
With the results of 2024, the Industrial Doctorate Plan reinforces a trajectory of more than ten years as a successful public policy. The overall balance of the program reflects its consolidation through the following figures:
- 1,182 projects promoted since the start of the program.
- A total investment in collaborative R&D&I of 157 million euros, of which 62% comes from the private sector.
- 739 participating companies and institutions, demonstrating the trust of the socio-economic fabric in the model.
- Involvement of the entire knowledge ecosystem: the 12 Catalan universities, 27 CERCA centers and 519 recognized research groups.
- 439 doctoral theses defended to date, contributing highly qualified talent to the labor market and the research system.
The 2024 Report, which includes historical data and testimonies from its protagonists, can be consulted in full on the Industrial Doctorate Plan website.
