SSF Industrial Doctoral Studentship 2026 Opens with 39 Million SEK Investment for Industry-Driven PhDs
Breaking into a fully funded doctoral pathway that combines academic depth with real industry impact is no small opportunity. The SSF Industrial Doctoral Studentship 2026 is now officially open, offering structured funding for 12 industrial PhD positions in Sweden. Backed by a total investment of 39 million SEK, this program is designed to strengthen collaboration between companies and Swedish higher education institutions while producing highly employable doctoral graduates.
This competitive call targets research within the core funding areas of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF): natural sciences, technology, and medicine. Each selected doctoral candidate will work at the intersection of academia and industry, contributing to innovation while earning a doctoral degree.
A total of 12 awards will be granted, with each project receiving 3.25 million SEK. The funded doctoral projects are scheduled to begin between January 1 and June 30, 2027.
Funding Architecture: How the 39 Million SEK Is Distributed
This call is structured to ensure both academic excellence and strong industrial integration. Each selected project will receive:
- 3.25 million SEK in total funding per doctoral student
- Full financial support contributing to research and postgraduate education costs
- Structured collaboration between a Swedish higher education institution and a company
- Supervision from two supervisors (one academic, one industry-based)
- Funding aligned with SSF’s focus areas: natural sciences, technology, and medicine
Across all selected projects:
- Total funding available: 39 million SEK
- Total number of funded doctoral students: 12
The funding supports the full doctoral training pathway and ensures strong knowledge transfer between academia and industry.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility and Structural Requirements
This program is not a standard PhD call. It is specifically designed for new doctoral candidates who will operate within an industry-academia partnership framework.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- The doctoral candidate must not yet be admitted to postgraduate education at the time of application
- The doctoral student must be at least 80% employed by a company during the grant period
- The higher education institution involved must be located in Sweden
- The project must include two supervisors:
- One supervisor from the Swedish higher education institution (main applicant)
- One supervisor from the company (co-applicant)
- The definition of company includes hospitals to enable medical and clinical research collaboration
- Research must fall within SSF’s funded areas: natural sciences, technology, or medicine
The main applicant is the academic supervisor at the Swedish university. The company supervisor participates as co-applicant.
Application Roadmap: Step-by-Step to a Funded Industrial PhD
If you are considering applying, here is how the process typically unfolds:
First, identify a Swedish higher education institution willing to host the doctoral project and appoint an academic supervisor.
Second, secure a collaborating company partner where you will be employed at least 80 percent during your doctoral studies. Third, ensure that the proposed research aligns with SSF’s priority fields: natural sciences, technology, or medicine.
Fourth, the academic supervisor (as main applicant) prepares and submits the application https://strategiska.se/en/press-release/time-to-apply-for-ssf-industrial-doctoral-studentship-2026/, with the company supervisor included as co-applicant.
Finally, if awarded, the doctoral project must start within the approved window between January 1 and June 30, 2027. Because this is a structured industrial doctorate, early coordination between the university and company partner is essential.
Important Deadline for SSF Industrial Doctoral Studentships
The last date to apply for the SSF Industrial Doctoral Studentship 2026 is May 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM.