A.A. 2025-2026 (cycle XLI)

Call for Applications

PhD in Strategic Innovation for Sustainable and Smart Ecosystems

 University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy

The Department of Economics, Management and Statistics (DEMS) of the University of Milano-Bicocca invites applications to its PhD Multidisciplinary Programme in Strategic Innovation for sustainable and Smart Ecosystems (SIS2E) for the academic year 2025-26 (XLI cycle).

The Call of Applications 2025-2026 offers at least 17 fully-funded scholarships.

The selection procedure is regulated by the official Call for Applications (Bando di Concorso), which will be published in the Doctoral School’s and in the PhD programme websites on March 21, 2025, with deadline on April 24, 2025.

The official Call for Applications contains detailed information on: i) the documents that each candidate has to submit; ii) structure, contents and timing (May 15, 2025 - June 20, 2025) of the entrance examination; iii) description of the projects related to the scholarships and positions offered.

The official Call for Applications will be published here.

More information about the admission procedure can be found in the FAQ section.

For any additional administrative information, please write to dottorati@unimib.it.

SIS2E creates an international cultural context that stimulates the doctoral candidates to share their research results and engage in dissemination and valorization activities. Through systematic mentoring, students are guided their research findings with stakeholders from business and social entities, thereby participating in the societal and political debate. This excellence program offers a cross-disciplinary perspective combining research rigor with relevance for organizations, community and society.  

After completing the program, the participants will be able to:

1. contextualize their own research output;
2. set up and participate in high level innovative research projects with practical implications;
3. link research projects to the Sustainable Development Goals;
4. participate actively in the political and societal debateat local, national and supranational levels;
5. think cross-disciplinary, in line with the mission of the university’s mission.

The program offers a semi-flexible approach to each participant with a focus on specific projects. It starts in the first year with a common foundational perspective (the ‘trunk’ with deep ‘roots’), and evolves into a tailored and specialized approach engaging in the specialization area (the ‘branches’ and ‘leaves’).

There are four specialization areas called ‘innovation tracks’:

i)  Innovation of Processes;

ii) Innovation of Products;

iii) Innovation in Society & Organizations;

iv) Innovation and Welfare.

SIS2E combines in a new mode the methodological instruments with  innovation oriented themes, thereby contextualizing the research results.

SIS2E forms researchers with an innovation-oriented profile that is very popular among companies and national and international public entities. Especially the following abilities are developed:

1. leading complex research projects for sustainable and smart innovation;
2. "ambidexterity", implying a balanced approach between development and implementation;
3. understanding the relation between science/technology and businesses;
4. understanding complex systems and managing interrelated ecosystems and networks in which they are created and realized.

More specifically, the doctors in SIS2E will find jobs as

1. data scientists, data analysts, Artificial Intelligence experts, and so forth;
2. managers of energy transition and experts in circular economy;
3. product developer and R&D managers;
4. setting up start-up companies and develop scale-up strategies;
5. work for investment funds and venture capitalists specialized in cutting-edge technologies;
6. manage social innovation projects;
7. manage the innovation of welfare systems.

The program offers to each participant a semi-flexible approach and assigns each of them to a specific research project.

During the first year, the program starts with a common track introducing advanced research and theoretical skills.

Foundation courses will be offered during the first term of the first year (November  2024 - of January 2025), on the following topics:

- Research Methods I (12 hours; instructor: Diego Coletto, University of Milano-Bicocca)

- Research Methods II (12 hours; instructor: Alessandra Decataldo, University of Milano-Bicocca)

- Research Methods III (12 hours; instructor: Navid Nobani, University of Milano-Bicocca)

- Understanding Innovation (24 hours; instructor: Marco Corsino, University of Milano-Bicocca)

- Managing Innovation (12 hours; instructor: Davide Alberti, A2A S.p.A.)

- Social Inequality & Social Justice I (8 hours; instructor: Stefano Pippa, University of Milano-Bicocca)

- Social Inequality & Social Justice II (8 hours; instructor: Mauro Giacomazzi, Fondazione AVSI)

Timetable Courses

In the second and third year, the program becomes ever more specialized by focusing on the specific research topic of the participant which is anchored in one of the four specialization tracks.  

Besides the foundational and cross-disciplinary courses,  more specialized foci will be added inside and outside the university. Through coaching and mentoring, thematic workshops and conferences more depth will gradually be added.

A stay of 3-6 months abroad and an internship in a company will be added to develop higher-level skills.