Doctoral research and companies: cooperation for industrial development and innovation

The problems of modern industry are more and more complex and require an intersectorial approach that puts together different competences. In several cases the experimental techniques and the methods of calculus, modelling and simulation, typical of engineering must be supported by knowledges specific of other disciplines. Therefore, experts of chemistry, applied physics, medicine are present in the PhD scientific panel. The PhD programme of Industrial Engineering is like a “melting pot” where different competences and expertises meet to produce new projects and to realize machines, products and services of practical use. The research activity is carried out by PhD students under the supervision and with the help of tutors. We believe that students at the end of their doctoral route must be able to solve industrial problems. This is of the utmost importance independently on their future employment, in academy (a little part) or in the industry (the large part). In addition to a scientific method, it is mandatory an intersectorial and interdisciplinary approach because real industrial problems often present many different and interrelated aspects; rarely they are restricted to single topics. Aiming to this target, problems and ideas are discussed and compared in periodic meetings of the PhD Programme on themes of large interest such as the engineering research of medicine interest, the production and conversion of energy, new materials etc. Some presentations are given by students, others by professors. Some topics represent just new ideas to develop, other correspond to industrial products realized on the basis of the research work carried out in the frame of PhD. The practice is very useful for both students and professors. On the one hand students go beyond the specific subject of their thesis to get a more general vision fundamental for developing capability and flexibility in problem solving at the basis of their future work in academy, research centres and industry. On the other hand it is possible to achieve relevant technical results. Some examples are given to illustrate how doctoral research leads to a strong cooperation with industrial companies and to the realization of products and services of practical and economic interest.