PhD News

PhD News

In September 2011 CC-Benelux will start a InnoEnergy PhD programme

The EIT-KIC PhD education programme is a study offered by the department Electrical engeneering of the Catholic University of Leuven (ESAT K.U.Leuven) and its university partners of the KIC InnoEnergy. This PhD programme covers all PhD education in the themes of InnoEnergy.  The inclusion of innovation projects is an important aspect of the PhD. The connection between innovation projects and PhD education is managed within the thematic tracks.

The seven thematic tracks currently included in the programme are shown in the following table:

 

The first six themes are the ones managed by particular colocation centres, and the seventh is one of the KIC-wide "Lighthouse" themes.

When compared to a conventional PhD education, with weaker industrial collaboration and  business-orientation, this programme provides students with the following benefits: 

-          working closely with industry, so that students have:

-          useful, relevant research subjects

-          access to further facilities and advisers in non-university organisations

-          stimulation from the chance of seeing the research put into action

-          familiarity and competence in the industrial as well as the academic research environment

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-        strong contact with partner universities, for courses and "mobility", giving

-          a wide range of courses available, often with possibility of distance-learning

-          a wider set of ideas and viewpoints from project collaboration (e.g. co-supervision)

-          an introduction to at least one other country and university environment, enhancing future options of jobs and of Europe-wide mobility

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-         education in business and entrepreneurship, both in principle and by application, giving

-          tools and encouragement to assess the PhD research project throughout the studies

-          strong competence to commercialise research, whether in industry or a start-up company.

The aims of the InnoEnergy PhD programme are to enhance learning outcomes, in the direction of business and entrepreneurship:  skills and methods in business; critical analysis and evaluation of the potential for commercialisation; communication with business-people such as financiers; and promotion of technological advancement by direct work with applying research within universities, small companies or large industry.   The programme will stimulate an "innovative and entrepreneurial culture" in its graduates.