National Industry PhD Program

The National Industry PhD Program brings universities and businesses together to co-design and deliver cutting-edge, industry-focused research. By embedding PhD candidates across both environments, the program enables deep collaboration on real-world challenges, translating advanced research into practical outcomes while building long-term innovation capability across sectors.

About the Program

The National Industry PhD Program is an Australian Government initiative that funds PhD candidates to undertake industry-focused research projects co-designed by a university and an eligible Australian business. The purpose is to enhance collaboration between universities and industry, foster more tangible research impact, and create researchers able to work across both sectors.

The Program consists of two streams:

• Industry Linked PhD stream: This stream is for outstanding PhD candidates to undertake research projects co-designed by university and industry, with opportunities to be embedded in an industry setting.
• Industry Researcher PhD stream: This stream is for highly capable industry professionals who are supported by their employers to undertake PhD projects in partnership with a university while retaining industry employment and salary benefits.

Key dates

Applications open on Monday, 9 February 2026.

For more information

Visit the National Industry PhD Program website here.

For more detailed information about the National Industry PhD Program, including eligibility, duration, application processes, training embedment and funding support, access the Program Guidelines.