Industrial Mention
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What is the Industrial Doctorate?
In Industrial Doctorates, students take part in an industrial or experimental development research project that is directly related to their thesis and carried out in a company or public body (universities excluded) with a connection to any of the branches of knowledge.
The mention in intended to foster relations between academic and business worlds by promoting knowledge transfer and innovation and enhancing the employability of young researchers. It is conceived as a tool for training researchers in the skills required to perform R+D+i roles and activities in the business environment.
Theses will take as their subject a project of interest to the business community and will generate enough knowledge to be regarded as innovative research. Generally speaking, these theses may include business or experimental projects geared towards the development of new or improved products, processes or services.
Requisites
In order to obtain the Industrial Doctorate specialisation, in addition to the requirements established by Royal Decree 99/2011, as currently worded, in compliance with the provisions of article 15 bis, UAH doctoral students conducting research in partnership with companies or public institutions must meet the following requirements:
a) The thesis involves a research project of industrial, commercial, social or cultural interest for an organisation, public or private company or public administration. Universities, public research organisations (national or regional) and university hospitals are excluded. Exceptionally, this specialisation may be obtained at any of these institutions, except universities, provided that the content of the thesis is clearly applied. The direct relationship between the doctoral thesis and the work carried out by the doctoral student at the organisation or company must be formalised in a scientific-technical report that must be approved by the university.
b) An agreement has been signed between the organisation, company or public administration and the university for the academic development of the doctoral thesis, which shall establish at least the obligations of the parties and the industrial property rights that may be generated.
c) The doctoral student has been employed by the organisation, company or public administration where the research project is being carried out for at least one year while conducting the thesis, a substantial part of which must be carried out at the organisation, company or public administration.
In order to apply for the "Industrial Doctorate" specialisation, the University must have an agreement with the organisation, company or public administration for the doctoral thesis to be conducted. This agreement will set out the obligations of the parties and the industrial property rights that may be generated.
After signing the agreement between the organisation and the university, the doctoral student must apply for the "Industrial Doctorate" specialisation by submitting an application to the programme's Academic Committee, attaching a copy of the contract and the scientific-technical report for the industrial or experimental research project, as well as the non-disclosure agreement, if applicable.
The Doctoral Programme Academic Committee will study the application, verify compliance with all the requirements of the industrial doctorate specialisation and make its decision according to the programme criteria, taking into account the viability of the research project presented. Once approved, the Academic Committee will send the application, together with all the appropriate documentation specified above (copy of the contract, scientific-technical report, non-disclosure agreement), within a period of no more than ten days to the Doctoral School for ratification and filing of the documents.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORT
The Doctoral Programme Academic Committee will approve a scientific-technical report showing the direct relationship between the doctoral thesis and the work carried out by the doctoral student at the organisation or company.
The report shall be submitted to the Doctoral Programme Academic Committee, validated by the head of the organisation, company or public administration and shall reflect the interest of the aforementioned organisation in the project development. The thesis must also be approved by the tutors (at the university and the company) and by the thesis supervisors.
The Academic Committee will approve the report according to criteria of scientific quality of the research project as the basis for a doctoral thesis, its suitability for an industrial doctorate and the viability of the project presented. In the event of an unfavourable report, the Committee shall give a reasoned justification for its decision.
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
Where the parties (university, organisation and doctoral student) consider it necessary, non-disclosure agreements will be signed in accordance with the criteria previously, objectively and uniformly established, to regulate the use of confidential information and the dissemination of research outcomes. This will be attached to the doctoral student’s application and to the scientific-technical report.
The doctoral student will have a supervisor responsible for monitoring the research project nominated by the company or Public Administration, who may also be the thesis supervisor in accordance with UAH internal doctoral regulations. The doctoral programme committee will study the CV of the person nominated by the company and will decide on his/her suitability as thesis supervisor. In the event that the person nominated by the company finally supervises the thesis, a tutor from the University of Alcalá will be required, who may also act as co-supervisor.
When the company supervisor does not supervise the thesis, a supervisor will be required in accordance with UAH internal doctoral regulations. If this person is not from the University of Alcalá, a tutor from the University of Alcalá will be required, who may also act as co-supervisor.
Under no circumstances may the person appointed by the company form part of the thesis examining panel.
Examination of thesis
The thesis will be examined according to the procedure set out in the Regulations of the Doctoral School of the University of Alcalá and to the specific terms agreed in writing between the UAH and the company or public body.
The Doctoral School has signed agreements with companies and administrations from various fields for the completion of doctorates with an industrial mention. Over the last few years, the theses with an industrial mention have been carried out in collaboration with the following: