Innovation PhD

Application form

In addition to your CV, answer the written questions below. We want to learn about you and your ambition; the questions are also a prompt to reflect on your expectations and fit for the programme.

Each written response may be up to 800 words. This form saves a private draft in your browser only; nothing is stored on our server until you submit.

About you

We use these details only to administer your application.

Full name *Email address *Current institution or affiliation optionalHosting Principal Investigator optionalPlease provide the name of a PI you would like to work with.

Deep-Tech Intent and Ambition

Answer all three questions.

Why do you want to pursue a deep-tech venture through a PhD, rather than starting a conventional startup or pursuing a purely academic research path?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

What makes you an innovator, and why do you think you are a good fit for the Innovation PhD Programme?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

What does entrepreneurship mean to you in the context of scientific excellence?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

Societal Outcome and Impact

Choose and answer exactly two questions.

Choose two questions 0 of 2 selected Which societal outcome would you be most excited to target through deep-tech venture creation, and why? Describe a field, challenge, or transition where you believe science-based entrepreneurship could create meaningful societal change. What kind of impact would make the Innovation PhD personally worth it for you ten years from now?

Problem Orientation and First-Principles Thinking

Choose and answer exactly two questions.

Choose two questions 0 of 2 selected Describe a problem, inefficiency, or unmet need that genuinely frustrates you. Break it down: who experiences it, what causes it, why has it not been solved, and what evidence would you seek next? Choose a problem you believe is worth solving through deep tech. What evidence would convince you that the problem is urgent, that current solutions are insufficient, and that a science-based venture could be the right path? Pick a deep-tech innovation you admire. What problem did it solve, what tradeoffs did it make, and what can future sciencepreneurs learn from it?

Self-Awareness, Learning and Ownership

Answer all four questions.

What skills do you already bring to a sciencepreneurial venture, and which critical skills would you need from co-founders, advisors, or collaborators?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

Name one thing that gives you energy and one thing that costs you energy. What does this reveal about the role you are likely to play in an entrepreneurial team?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

Which skill do you most need to develop to become a successful deep-tech entrepreneur, and how would you design a learning experience to build it?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

How do you respond when progress is slow, uncertain, or uncomfortable, and what does taking ownership mean to you in those moments?

Your response Maximum 800 words.

CV

Upload your current CV as a PDF (maximum 10 MB).

CV *

Confirmation and submission

Review your answers before submitting.

I confirm that the information in this application is accurate and complete; that it may be processed for eligibility and selection and shared with programme and invited expert reviewers under appropriate confidentiality conditions; that I will notify the programme office of material changes; and that I acknowledge the privacy notice.

Progress will update as you complete the application.