Talent and innovation for business: Industrial research and PhDs in Germany and Spain

 

La Cámara de Comercio Alemana para España organizes on May 11, 2026 in Madrid a day about industrial doctorates to connect talent and applied research with companies, seeking to replicate the success of the German model and to inform about available public funding in España.

 

Collaboration between the corporate and academic sectors has become a fundamental pillar for the strategic innovationIn this context, the figure of the industrial doctorate emerges as a direct bridge to integrate cutting-edge scientific knowledge into the resolution of real challenges in the global market.

 

El Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU) positions this connection as a priority axis for promoting the knowledge transfer, the R&D&I and highly skilled employability. This model allows organizations not only to attract talent, but also to develop solutions based on scientific evidence with the support of prestigious academic institutions.

 

The German benchmark and its deployment in Spain

 

En Alemania, industrial doctorates They represent a consolidated opportunity for mutual collaboration. According to program data, approximately 3.000 students They conduct their research annually in direct collaboration between research centers or universities and the private sector.

 

For its part, España It has implemented a similar structure supported by significant investment. Currently, these programs have a budget of up to 8 millones de euros at the national level, in addition to various regional funds to encourage the hiring of researchers in corporate environments.

 

Concept	Detail in Alemania	Detail in España
Annual PhD students	Approx. 3.000
Publicly supported investment	Consolidated model	Up to 8.000.000 EUR (Domestic)
Date of the technical meeting	11/05/2026	11/05/2026

 

Program and industry experts

 

The event will feature the participation of key institutional figures such as Embajada de Alemania and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAADThe main presentation will be given by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Theo Kiesel, Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippewho will delve into the operational benefits of the German system.

 

From a national perspective, the following will be analyzed: good practice from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJCExperts such as María Luz Martín Peña (Director of the Escuela Internacional de Doctorado), Alexandre Wagemaker y Luis Fernando Bautista, who will detail the practical application of these projects in the Spanish industry.

 

The event is specifically geared towards talent acquisition and technical management departments seeking:

 

• Hire highly qualified staff under public subsidy schemes.
• Obtain innovative solutions to technical challenges based on scientific evidence.
• Access to financial support for academia-business collaboration.
• Improving employability and the transfer of technology in the labor market.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about Industrial PhDs

 

What direct economic benefit do companies obtain in Spain?

Companies can access public calls for proposals with up to 8 millones de euros at the national level, in addition to specific regional funds that subsidize part of the doctoral candidate's hiring costs.

 

What is the volume of industrial PhDs in Germany?

The German model is a European benchmark with nearly 3.000 doctoral students annual work simultaneously in universities and companies, which guarantees a constant transfer of technology.

 

Who is this applied research program aimed at?

It is directed at both companies who need to solve scientific challenges with specialized talent such as universities that seek to improve the career prospects of their postgraduate researchers in the private sector.

 

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