# Industrial PhD Scheme – Doctoral Projects in Industry 2026

**Funder:** Research Council of Norway
**Budget:** NOK 145,800,000 total available
**Duration:** 36-48 months
**Consortium:** Required — collaboration between a company and a research institution
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** NO
**Official call:** https://www.forskningsradet.no/en/call-for-proposals/2026/industrial-phd-scheme-doctoral-projects-industry-2026/#results
**Last verified:** 9 August 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Strengthens research-based innovation and long-term competence-building in Norwegian business and industry through doctoral candidate recruitment in companies. Total available: NOK 145.8M.

## Summary

The Industrial PhD Scheme, Doctoral Projects in Industry 2026 funds doctoral candidates employed by Norwegian companies and public sector organisations to pursue research-based innovation over 36-48 months. The Research Council of Norway runs this as a rolling call, with companies and non-research public entities as applicants, not individual researchers. The scheme strengthens industry-academia partnerships by embedding doctorates directly in the workplace.

## Who should apply

- Norwegian companies or public sector organisations seeking to build research capacity
- Organisations planning to employ a doctoral candidate for the full 36-48 month duration
- Companies with a clear research question suited to doctorate-level work
- Organisations ready to partner with an academic supervisor at a Norwegian research institution

## Key dates

- Rolling deadline: applications accepted continuously
- Project duration: 36-48 months

## Tips for applicants

- The applicant is the company, not the doctoral candidate, ensure your organisation's research strategy and supervisor commitment are clearly articulated in the proposal.
- Emphasise the innovation value to your organisation; the panel assesses how the doctorate strengthens your research capacity, not just the academic novelty of the topic.
- A named academic supervisor with prior industrial-research experience strengthens your credibility with the funder.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who applies for the Industrial PhD Scheme?

Norwegian companies and public sector organisations apply on behalf of a doctoral candidate they will employ; individual researchers do not apply directly.

### How long is an Industrial PhD Scheme doctorate?

Projects run for 36-48 months.

### Is the Industrial PhD Scheme deadline fixed?

No, it operates on a rolling deadline, so applications are accepted continuously.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/research-council-of-norway-industrial-phd-scheme-doctoral-projects-in-industr-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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