PhD in in­ter­na­tio­nal re­search and in­nova­tion col­la­bo­ra­tion be­twe­en Eu­ro­pe and China: a com­pa­ra­ti­ve per­specti­ve

The Department of Organization (IOA) at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) invites applications for a vacant PhD scholarship. The project will be supervised by Associate Professor Stine Haakonsson (CBS) and Professor Wang Haiyan (UCAS).

The PhD stipend is intended to strengthen links between CBS and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) in the study of international research collaboration. The aim is to consolidate and develop this research collaboration by engaging with the following research topics:

• interactions between innovation policy and ecosystems of innovation
• science-technology-innovation policy,
• innovation networks, technology transfer, and science collaboration,
• the development of science and its geography, e.g. by taking on a holistic perspective to one or more specific case technologies (e.g. energy, nano-science, neuro-science)
• the role of China in the process of organizing global science, technology and innovation

Applications are encouraged from those with some experience of Economic Geography, International Political Economy and the political economy of China. Chinese language ability is preferred, although not essential. The selection of the PhD stipend will not be based on prior methodological or theoretical preferences. However, applications should outline and reflect upon theoretical and methodological preferences. The holder of the scholarship will work within the fields of International Political Economy, economic sociology, business and politics, economic geography, historical sociology and China studies.

IOA is an international department comprising 55 faculty, 35 PhD students, and 11 administrative staff. We pursue a problem-oriented, business in society approach to understanding and intervening in workplaces, organizations and networks. Our research is focused upon organizing processes and driven by an interest in organization and management as a practical, situated, contested and changing matter. This includes studies of private companies, public organizations, professional societies as well as NGOs. Our social scientific approach includes scholarly traditions such as organization theory, sociology, political economy, economic geography, social psychology, and science and technology studies. We value qualitative methods highly and typically employ case studies, ethnographic methods, or social network analysis. The successful applicant will be associated particularly with the RIO (Research, Innovation and Organization) and the OMG (Organizations, Markets and Governance) research groups within IOA.

The teaching responsibilities associated with the scholarship comprise graduate teaching and supervision in subjects such as National Innovation Systems and Business Government Relations.

The three-year PhD programme at CBS allows candidates to conduct research under the co-supervision of CBS and University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences professors, supported by research training courses. The programme is highly international, and you will be expected to participate in international research conferences. It is a requirement that the candidate will spend 12 months in China. See the CBS homepage for more information about the PhD program, http://uk.cbs.dk/phd .

It is also required that the applicant shows an interest in joining the Department’s research environment, see http://uk.cbs.dk/ioa

Please be aware, that the PhD project involves funding from Sino Danish Center/SDC. Chinese citizens cannot apply for PhD scholarships funded by the Danish SDC office but must apply through University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in accordance with Chinese national regulations. Furthermore, the PhD student: 

• is required to spend time in a Chinese research environment. The specific period depends on the funding model, in this PhD case it is a full SDC scholarship which requires 12 months in a SDC/Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) research environment. 
• is expected to contribute to the educational activities on the SDC Master's programmes in Beijing during their stay in China. 

See the SDC’s website on the specific requirements: http://sdc.university/research/phd/  Please note that it is not possible to be exempted from these conditions. 

Copenhagen Business School has a broad commitment to the excellence, distinctiveness and relevance of its teaching and research programmes. Candidates who wish to join us should demonstrate enthusiasm for working in an organization of this type (highlighting, for example, relevant business, educational and dissemination activities).

For further information, please contact: Associate Professor Stine Haakonsson, email: stha.ioa@cbs.dk.  Information about the department may be found at www.cbs.dk/ioa.

General information:
A PhD scholarship runs for a period of three years, and includes teaching obligations corresponding to 416 work hours. The scholarships are fully salaried positions, according to the national Danish collective agreement. The monthly salary is currently approximately DKK 29,691,75 up to DKK 36,180 depending on seniority and a pension contribution totalling 18,07 %. The scholarship includes tuition fees, office space, course and travel costs (according to the current CBS agreement). 

Salary level and employment take place in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's agreement with the Academics' Central Organization.

The PhD student will be enrolled at the CBS PhD School. The candidate will have the possibility of obtaining a double degree from Copenhagen Business School and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The candidate is obliged to spend 12 of the 36 months of the stipend in China.

To be considered, the candidate should have a basic training at the Masters level (similar to the 3 + 2 Bologna process). An educational background in the social sciences is necessary. The applicant must have successfully completed the Masters degree before commencing a PhD at CBS. The applicant must be fluent in English.

The application must include:

• A project description (max. 5 pages): This research proposal should contain a presentation of an original research question, a description of the initial theoretical framework and research methodology, a presentation of the suggested empirical material as well as a work-plan in the form of a Gantt Chart, and finally a brief outline of how the project would fit within the framework of the collaborative research project.  
• Copies of a Masters degree certificate or other certificates of a corresponding level.   
• Brief curriculum vitae (CV).   
• A list of papers and publications.   
• One copy of a selected written work (e.g. Masters thesis).   
• Documentation of English language skills if English is not mother tongue.

Recruitment procedure:
The Recruitment Committee expects to shortlist at least five applicants to be assessed by the Assessment Committee. All applicants will be notified of their status in the recruitment process shortly after the application deadline.

Applicants selected for assessment will be notified about the composition of the Assessment Committee and later in the process about the result of the assessment.  Once the recruitment process is completed each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application.

Please find guidelines and further information on scholarships and the Doctoral Programme at http://uk.cbs.dk/phd.

Application must be sent via the electronic recruitment system, using the link above.  

Copenhagen Business School must receive all application material, including all appendices (see items above), by the application deadline.

Details about Copenhagen Business School and the Department of Organization are available at www.cbs.dk.  

The envisaged starting date of the position is as soon as possible, at the latest December 1, 2026. This date is open to some negotiation, but the stipend must commence in 2026.