On February 13, the Auditorium of the Department of Research and Universities hosted the welcome session for new participants in the Industrial Doctorates program. The event, which began at 9:30 a.m., served to introduce the Plan team, explain the key aspects of the program, and resolve the main doubts of attendees.
The Industrial Doctorates team, formed by the technical director Jordi Alba and the specialized technicians AgnĆØs LĆ³pez, JesĆŗs Ruiz de la Torre and Xavier FajarnĆ©s, welcomed the doctoral students and representatives of companies and universities. During the session, the importance of Industrial Doctorates was highlighted as a tool to promote strategic, collaborative and applied research, while responding to current and future challenges in the socio-economic fabric.
The event included detailed explanations about how the program works, highlighting the following points:
Collaboration agreement and relationship between the parties
The framework for collaboration between the company or institution, the academic environment and the doctoral student has been explained. This agreement is essential to establish the bases of the project, including the employment contract, the doctoral registration and the obligations of each party. Mechanisms for resolving discrepancies and the role of the Industrial Doctorates team as mediators if necessary have also been detailed.
Project financing
The Generalitat de Catalunya offers financial support structured in three main modalities:
- Part-time doctorate (or in an international work center or public administration): ā¬10,800
- Full-time doctorate (work center in Catalonia): ā¬27,000
- Full-time doctorate with new addition: ā¬27,000 + ā¬22,800 additional.
The funding covers the doctoral student's labor costs, research activities, mobility actions, training and publications. In addition, compatibility with other R&D&I grants and the possibility of extension without additional contribution have been explained.
Training in transversal skills
One of the pillars of the program is specific training for doctoral students in fundamental skills for their professional career. These are divided into:
- 30 common hours funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
- 30 additional hours paid for by the company, university or other institutions.
The areas addressed include:
- Leadership and management of R&D&I projects
- Valorization and transfer of results
- R&D&I and entrepreneurship funding
- Protection of research results
- Professional development outside of academia
AGAUR is the body responsible for managing and supervising the grants, as well as supporting doctoral students in the process of justifying and completing the project. Information was provided on the justification procedure and key dates for monitoring the DI-2024 project. Attendees were informed about the possibility of obtaining the industrial mention in the doctoral degree, in accordance with Royal Decree 99/2011. This mention certifies the completion of a doctorate in collaboration with the business sector and can be requested before the thesis is deposited.
Eduard Lorda, technician responsible for the coordination point of the EURAXESS network, highlighted the international mobility options that can benefit doctoral students, with special emphasis on the Euraxess network, which facilitates access to research opportunities at a European level. In addition, it was shared that 37% of industrial doctors have done a research stay and 20% have done an international stay in a company or institution.
During the question and answer session, attendees had the opportunity to answer questions about practical aspects of the program, from the relationship between the parties involved to the requirements for obtaining the industrial mention.
Impact and opportunities for doctoral students
The Industrial Doctorate Plan has a high employment rate, with 75% of industrial doctorates incorporated into companies or institutions and 83% with permanent contracts. In addition, the program facilitates the generation of scientific publications and the protection of research results, with 25% of projects leading to patents.
The impact of these projects not only translates into better opportunities for doctoral students, but also into increased international visibility for participating companies and research groups. 40% of projects generate between 3 and 4 scientific publications, and 18% generate 5 or more.
With this welcome session, a new stage begins for industrial doctoral students, who contribute to strengthening competitiveness and innovation in Catalonia.
