The University of Milano-Bicocca is inviting applications for its prestigious Industrial PhD Program 2025 in Strategic Innovation for Sustainable and Smart Ecosystems. This opportunity is tailor-made for ambitious postgraduates and early-career professionals who aim to bridge academic research and real-world industrial challenges in Italy.
This Industrial PhD program is aligned with national innovation strategies and offers generous scholarships backed by collaborations with top-tier companies like Eni S.p.A., Intesa Sanpaolo, A2A, Italfarmaco, and AVSI Foundation.
What’s this Industrial Italian PhD Program all About?
The goal of the PhD is to develop highly specialized professionals with strong interdisciplinary training in digital innovation, sustainable development, energy transition, social welfare, and more. Students will dive deep into one of the following thematic tracks:
Process Innovation
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- Data, Economics, Ethics & Policy: For data scientists, AI specialists, and policy analysts.
- Environmental & Energy Transition: For experts in renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable cities.
Product Innovation
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For engineers and physicists interested in thermonuclear fusion, materials science, and high-performance computing.
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Social Innovation
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For social scientists, legal professionals, and urban development experts focusing on inclusion, responsibility, and organizational innovation.
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Welfare Innovation
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For biomedical and social sciences grads focusing on digital health, medical innovation, and welfare system sustainability.
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Scholarship Benefits
- Annual Stipend: €16,243 (tax-free)
- +50% Increase for research stays abroad (up to 12–18 months)
- Extra Budget for research-related expenses in Italy or abroad (10% of the annual stipend)
- Access to Italy’s top research hubs, industry networks, and training facilities.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants of any nationality may apply if they hold:
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- A second-cycle/postgraduate degree,
- A pre-1999 Italian degree (old system),
- A master’s degree from the AFAM sector, or
- A foreign equivalent degree (to be evaluated by the Selection Board).
Graduating students may also apply, provided they complete their degree by October 31, 2025.
The application process for the Industrial PhD Scholarship 2025 at the University of Milano-Bicocca is divided into two sessions. The first session runs from March 21 to April 24, 2025, while the second session is open from July 11 to July 24, 2025, with both deadlines closing at noon (Italian time). The PhD program will officially begin on November 1, 2025.
Apply: https://en.unimib.it/study/doctoral-research-phd-programmes/applying-doctorate/calls-application.