Introduction

Why a PhD network inside CINet?

Consistent with its mission, CINet has developed a PhD network, which promotes research collaboration among PhD students and their institutions on topics of interest to CINet. In detail, the network objectives are as follows:

• To promote the development of research on continuous innovation and its applications to enhance companies' effectiveness and better use of human resources for more sustainable organisation of work.
• To facilitate research integration and mobility on a global level.
• To enhance research quality and, in particular, to promote synergy and collaboration on empirical research.
• To promote a better quality of PhD training and supervision.
• To promoting joint research programmes involving companies and academia offering the prospect of rigorous training and exposure of PhD students.

What is new with the CINet PhD network?

The CINet is unique for its focus on innovation management as well as for the specific vision that is shared by partner institutions concerning the role and potential contribution to innovation and improvement of human resources at all levels.
Characteristic for the CINet PhD network, relative to other PhD networks, is its strong emphasis on implementation and collaboration with industrial users. Students work in close collaboration with companies to analyse and solve management problems. Research designs involving in-depth empirical studies and action or clinical research are therefore encouraged. The PhD students involved in the CINet receive an intensive training to cope with concrete management issues. All the students who were so far rewarded a CINet-based PhD degree easily found their way to highly valued positions in industrial companies, in research insitutes or as consultants.

How will the network relate to local PhD programmes?

The network does not replace local PhD programmes but rather supports them in all programme phases, providing opportunities for international collaboration and synergy.

Who can be part of the network?

The network is primary aimed at enhancing research quality and collaboration among the CINet partner institutions. CINet PhD students are therefore primarily selected from within the CINet partners. However, to promote the enlargement of the network and especially in those countries where the network is not consolidated, applications from PhD students belonging to other institutions are also often granted.

How is the network fiinanced?

The CINet network is designed to be self-sustained. All extra costs, not covered by local programmes, are covered by institutional funding (i.e., at national or European level) and company sponsorships. Sponsorship by companies, moreover, is used to increment the number of available PhD positions.

How is the network organised and managed?

The programme is a key activity within CINet. The organisation and management of the PhD network is therefore strictly linked to that of CINet. All CINet key partners are invited to contribute to the network as tutors, supervisors or teachers in the training activities. Executive responsibility for the co-ordination of the network is assigned to the PhD Network team.