University-Enterprise Collaboration*
As part of its third cycle studies, the University of Bergamo has a solid experience in innovative doctoral programmes that meet the innovation needs of businesses on topics of mutual interest:
Doctoral Programmes are usually structured in two parts:
For A.Y. 2023/24, as part of the 39th doctoral cycle, companies are offered the opportunity to co-finance one or more doctoral scholarships thanks to the measure provided by Ministerial Decree No. 117 of March 2, 2023, which awards scholarships to universities from European Union funds and under the Next Generation EU initiative.
The co-funded grants are part of the PNRR program and specifically relate to Mission 4 component 2 Investment 3.3 of the PNRR related to innovative doctorates that address the innovation needs of businesses and promote the recruitment of researchers by companies.
Universities and enterprises will jointly agree on the research topic, consistent with the targets of the PNRR, to be pursued by the student during the doctoral program. Doctoral students who receive scholarships co-funded by enterprises, will have to spend periods of study and research in the enterprises and also abroad to develop the project work.
Specifically, the innovative doctoral program has a duration of three to four years and includes:
Access to the Research Doctorate is by open competition. The members of the evaluation committee could include an expert or a member designated by the funders.
Innovative PhD scholarships require a contribution from Companies of € 50,000. This amount ensures a net monthly scholarship income of € 1,500, guarantees a 50 percent increase of the scholarship to cover research periods abroad and allows for a research budget of at least 10 percent of the scholarship amount.
In case the Companies prefer to pay the amount in three instalments, one instalment per year, they are required to take out a bank or insurance guarantee to secure the financing. The surety bond must be deposited at the time of signing the agreement. The surety bond is not required from Public Entities.
Alternatively, prepayment of the full amount is required.
DL 13/2023, whose implementing decree is awaited, provides in Art. 26 a contribution benefit for companies who are willing to co-finance innovative doctoral scholarships as described above, in the form of exemption from the payment of the total social security contributions to be paid by employers for each person hired with a permanent work contract, including those with a doctoral degree.
For each funded doctoral scholarship, a company can apply for the benefit for up to 2 people hired with a permanent contract. The exemption applies for a maximum period of 24 months, starting on January 1, 2024 and not later than December 31, 2026. For detailed information, companies should consult their tax advisor.
(*) Definition of an Enterprise for the purposes of DM 117/23 as of paragraph 2 "Notion of Enterprise and Economic Activity" of Commission Communication 2016/C 262/01 on the notion of State aid referred to in Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, according to which: "(...) any entity engaged in an economic activity, regardless of its legal status and the way in which it is financed. The classification of a given entity as an enterprise therefore depends entirely on the nature of its activities."
To implement an innovative doctorate or to request more information, companies may contact the Doctoral School at [email protected] and/or the Coordinator for the specific doctoral course of interest