项目介绍

2026年8月30日

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Economy and Society at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg is announcing 1-2 doctoral student positions in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management of Intellectual Assets at the Unit for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The unit offers single-subject courses at the Bachelor´s level, two Master´s programs (MSc in Innovation and Industrial Management; MSc in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship) and doctoral education. For more information: Unit for Innovation and Entrepreneurship | University of Gothenburg.

These doctoral students will be an important part of the international research center Gothenburg U-GOT KIES, which is hosted at the unit, as well as ongoing international research projects. The doctoral student project will broadly focus on knowledge creation and knowledge transfer – between small and large firms and between firms and universities, within specific technologies and industries. We work with many firms, universities and organizations, regionally and globally, to conduct and present our research. The associated research group that the doctoral students will join consists of national and international scholars.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages: https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies.

Duties

As a doctoral student you will use social science methodologies to investigate how and why innovation and entrepreneurship affect business and society. Each project will focus on a carefully selected topic in which these phenomena manifest themselves. The topic and individual study plan will be developed together with the supervisor(s). Below is a selection of potential topics that may be relevant to the advertised doctoral students projects:

1. The shifting needs of the Swedish food industry and associated value chains with respect to sustainable transitions and crisis preparedness – particularly focusing on the Swedish maritime industries – and how innovation and entrepreneurship can contribute to meet and strengthen these needs.
2. The role of innovation and entrepreneurship, together with the governance and policy structures associated with them, in the development of new sustainable solutions for the Swedish and European energy sector and its value chains, with a particular focus on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal power.
3. Artificial intelligence, innovation and entrepreneurship: Examining how AI transforms innovation processes, the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities, business model development and knowledge creation across industries, as well as analysing the governance mechanisms and policy frameworks required for the responsible and sustainable adoption and diffusion of AI-based innovations.
4. How organized collaboration and knowledge sharing among entrepreneurs (“collective entrepreneurial action”) affect environmental, economic, and social sustainability in local and rural contexts, with partial focus on the Swedish craft brewing industry.
5. Repurposing as an innovation strategy within the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and beyond: Analyzing how firms and research organizations reuse and recombine existing knowledge, technologies, or products to accelerate innovation, reduce uncertainty, and improve R&D productivity.
6. Collaboration as an enabler for innovation and knowledge generation: Examining how collaboration networks evolve, which factors promote effective collaboration, and how the internationalization of R&D shapes scientific advancements and innovation in complex, knowledge-intense industries.

The doctoral education (leading to a doctoral degree) in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management of Intellectual Assets consists of conducting a scientific research project and completing at least 90 credits of doctoral courses. Moreover, doctoral education may also include applying research results in collaboration with companies, universities and the public sector, and participating in international research conferences. Doctoral education requires a doctoral thesis consisting of either compiled papers or a monograph, corresponding to 150 credits, and defended in public. More information about the doctoral education at the department can be found at: Doctoral Studies | University of Gothenburg.

Doctoral studies comprise four years of full-time study and lead to a doctoral degree.    

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20% of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, which results in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels but may also include research and administration.

Eligibility

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:    

• having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
• the fulfilment of course requirements totaling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
• the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad. 

Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are at least 15 credits of coursework and 15 credits for a degree project at second-cycle level within the subject or a closely related field.

To be qualified, the applicant must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in both spoken and written English corresponding to English 6/English B at Swedish upper secondary school level, or an equivalent level demonstrated through an internationally recognised test. For more information about general entrance requirements, see www.universityadmissions.se (English) and www.antagning.se.

Applicants who do not speak Swedish already will be expected to learn Swedish during the doctoral education.

Applicants can apply before fulfilling all these requirements but the decision for admission can only be made after all requirements are fulfilled.

Assessment criteria

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate doctoral studies.   

During the assessment, we will specifically evaluate and place a high value upon documented experience of:

• specific knowledge and skills within the research subject area and closely related fields
• experience of scientific theory and relevant research methods
• scientific analysis and presentation, as demonstrated through a Master’s thesis, degree project, scientific publications, etc.

Great importance will be placed on personal suitability. Good collaborative skills are important for the position. You should be able to work both independently and as part of a team. You should have the ability to learn both independently and through interaction with leading scholars through doctoral courses and conferences, both nationally and internationally.

Proficiency in Swedish is considered a merit, corresponding to the Swedish upper secondary school courses Swedish 3 (Svenska 3) or Swedish as a Second Language 3 (Svenska som andraspråk 3).

Experience of conducting interviews, coding interview responses in relation to theory, and Master’s-level courses in qualitative methods is considered a merit. Experience of quantitative methods is also considered a merit, including experience of using statistical software such as R or Stata, and conducting econometric analyses.

Admission and employment

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.

The position is located at the Division of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Department of Economy and Society.

Starting date is 2027-02-01 or as agreed, but no later than 2027-04-01.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at Department of Economy and Society require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, Department of Economy and Society has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

For applicants with a master’s degree from a foreign country

If your degree is from a university/HEI outside of Sweden or has not been examined by a Swedish authority, it is important that you include diploma and transcript of records to facilitate evaluation. Please also provide contact details (telephone number or email address) for the awarding institution so that the degree can be verified.

For information on how to document the Swedish language proficiency considered a merit, see: Tisus – Test in Swedish for university studies.

For information on how to meet the specific English language requirement, see: https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/.

Selection process

The selection process may include interviews, written tests and checks of applicants’ references.

Contact information

If you have questions about the employment, you are welcome to contact:

Ethan Gifford, Head of Unit, Docent, ethan.gifford@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position

Application

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.   

Please attach the following in the application:

• Personal letter of max 2 pages with an overview of your previous experience, education, and future goals
• CV
• Degree certificate and transcripts/grades for completed courses
• Research proposal of max 2 pages outlining how you would carry out one of the projects listed above, including title, theory, method and expected outcomes
• A thesis at second-cycle/Master’s level (master’s thesis or equivalent)
• High school grades
• Documentation of English language requirements and Swedish language qualifications/merits
• Two letters of reference, including their contact details
• Other documents relevant for the application

Applications must be received by: 2026-10-08 (October 8^th)

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/