Deadline: 08-Sep-2026
The Industrial PhD: Greenland and the Faroe Islands (Public Sector) supports collaborative research projects involving public organisations, universities, and PhD students. The programme enables research to be applied in real-world settings while providing financial support for the PhD student, travel, and university project costs.
Programme Overview
The programme is designed to strengthen collaboration between public organisations and universities while developing research with practical applications.
Key objectives include:
- Supporting research collaboration between public organisations, universities, and PhD students.
- Enabling PhD students to apply academic research to real-world challenges.
- Strengthening cooperation between the public sector and universities.
- Supporting research projects with practical and potentially commercial value.
- Co-financing eligible salary, travel, and university project expenses.
Funding Available
The programme provides financial support for participating organisations and universities.
- PhD student salary: Up to DKK 17,000 per month.
- Travel and course participation: Up to DKK 100,000 for eligible expenses related to the Industrial PhD student’s travel and participation in courses.
- University project costs: A fixed amount of DKK 360,000, including overhead.
The funding is intended to support the costs associated with developing and implementing the Industrial PhD research project.
Who Is Eligible?
Public Organisations
In 2026, public organisations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands can apply for Industrial PhD projects.
Eligible organisations must:
- Be based in Greenland or the Faroe Islands.
- Have a geographical department in Denmark.
- Have sufficient financial resources to undertake the project.
- Have appropriate facilities and capacity to support the Industrial PhD project.
The participating organisation must collaborate with an eligible university and an Industrial PhD student.
Universities
Participating universities must:
- Be officially approved to conduct PhD programmes.
- Be able to appoint an appropriate academic supervisor.
- Participate in the development and implementation of the research project.
PhD Candidates
Candidates must meet specific academic requirements.
Applicants must:
- Have completed a master’s degree.
- Have achieved at least 10 on their master’s thesis.
- Have an average grade of at least 8.2 across their bachelor’s and master’s degrees combined, or
- Have an average of at least 9.5 in their master’s degree alone.
How the Industrial PhD Programme Works
The programme brings together three key participants:
- A public organisation in Greenland or the Faroe Islands identifies a relevant real-world research challenge.
- A university provides the academic environment, research supervision, and project support.
- An Industrial PhD student conducts the research while working on a project with practical applications.
The collaboration allows the PhD candidate to develop academic expertise while addressing a real challenge faced by the participating organisation.
What Does the Funding Support?
Funding can contribute to:
- Salary costs for the Industrial PhD student.
- Travel associated with the research project.
- Participation in relevant courses.
- University expenses connected to the project.
- Other eligible project-related costs covered under the programme’s funding rules.
Collaboration Requirements
The programme is based on a collaborative model. The research project should demonstrate a clear connection between the public organisation’s practical needs and the university’s research expertise.
The project should also provide the PhD student with an opportunity to conduct research in a real-world environment and develop solutions that can be applied beyond the academic setting.
Additional Eligibility Information
The Innovation Fund can also support companies that have a geographical division in Greenland or the Faroe Islands. However, the public-sector 2026 opportunity specifically enables public organisations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands to participate in Industrial PhD projects.
Why It Matters
The Industrial PhD programme creates a direct link between academic research and practical challenges in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
It can help:
- Public organisations access specialised research expertise.
- PhD students gain practical research experience.
- Universities strengthen collaboration with public-sector partners.
- Research findings become more applicable to real-world needs.
- Participating organisations develop evidence-based approaches to existing challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Industrial PhD programme?
The Industrial PhD programme supports collaborative research between an organisation, a university, and a PhD student. The research is designed to address practical challenges while meeting academic PhD requirements.
Who can apply under the 2026 public-sector programme?
Public organisations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands can apply, provided they meet the programme’s organisational, financial, and capacity requirements.
How much funding is available for the PhD student’s salary?
The programme provides up to DKK 17,000 per month towards the Industrial PhD student’s salary.
How much can be used for travel and courses?
Up to DKK 100,000 can support the organisation’s eligible expenses related to the student’s travel and participation in courses.
How much funding does the university receive?
The university receives a fixed DKK 360,000, including overhead, for the project.
What academic qualifications must the PhD candidate have?
The candidate must hold a master’s degree with at least a grade of 10 for the thesis and meet either the combined bachelor’s and master’s average of 8.2 or the master’s-only average of 9.5.
Can companies participate in the programme?
The Innovation Fund can also support companies with a geographical division in Greenland or the Faroe Islands. The public-sector opportunity, however, is specifically intended for public organisations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Conclusion
The Industrial PhD: Greenland and the Faroe Islands (Public Sector) provides a structured funding mechanism for public organisations, universities, and PhD students to collaborate on applied research. With salary, travel, and university project support, the programme aims to connect academic research with practical challenges and strengthen long-term cooperation between research institutions and organisations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
For more information, visit Innovation Fund Denmark.
