EPFLinnovators

The fellowship at a glance
EPFLinnovators is an industry-oriented doctoral programme based in the dynamic environment of the EPFL campus. To develop the innovation potential of PhD candidates, EPFLinnovators integrates a six-month to two-year secondment in the non-academic sector and provides the PhD candidates with a transferable skills training. The young researchers – to be trained in an academic as well as non-academic setting – will become true innovators, enforced with a broad set of scientific, transferable, and business skills.
36 excellent PhD candidates have been selected over 3 calls held in 2018 and 2019. No further call is expected.
EPFLinnovators supports gender equality. The programme strongly encourages females to apply.
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 754354. |


Doctoral studies may be held in any of the 22 doctoral programmes available at EPFL.

EPFLinnovators enhances collaboration with industry. The programme includes a long stay, of at least 6 months and up to 24 months, in the non-academic sector. Additionally, a co-supervision with the non-academic partner is strongly encouraged.

In addition to the scientific skills gained throughout the doctoral studies, EPFLinnovators fellows benefit from a transferable and business skills training.

The duration of the scholarship is 48 months (4 years) and cannot be prolonged. Employment after the initially granted time must be financed from other sources.

The EPFLinnovators fellowship consists of a monthly contribution of EUR 1’855 to the salary of the PhD candidate at EPFL. The thesis director is responsible for the remaining part of the salary (co-funding cannot come from other projects requiring time keeping), as well as for any other costs (equipment, travel expenses, equipment…).

This programme can only be carried out in Switzerland, at the EPFL campus in Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Valais, Geneva or Fribourg.
Useful documents
Check out the EPFLinnovators programme’s Rules and Regulations
Find out about the EPFLinnovators mandatory transferable skills training of 9 ECTS. Click here
As the vast majority of EPFL’s PhD candidates, EPFLinnovators fellows are employed and paid as “doctoral assistants”. Learn more
Outreach material is available here: Flyer
Funded by
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 754354. |