Our program is available to all Australian universities and is designed to support industry-university relationships to drive research translation and commercialisation. Guide your PhD candidates to develop solutions to real-world problems in partnership with industry and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.
How it works
Program benefits
- Access an industry PhD (iPhD) training program aligned to national priorities.
- Develop new or strengthen existing relationships with industry and CSIRO.
- Enhance innovation and the commercialisation potential of research with industry and CSIRO.
- Provide PhD students with an opportunity to develop industry-focused professional skills.
- Gain access to CSIRO and industry facilities, infrastructure, and expertise.
Program funding and support
The iPhD program is funded by the Australian Government and the industry partner for up to four years. Funding consists of three components:
- Student scholarship of $46,000 p.a. (2024 rate) comprising of $34,000 p.a. provided by the Government and $12,000 p.a. provided by the industry partner.
- Project expense and development package of up to $13,000 p.a. provided by the Government for research operating costs and research skill development.
- Student career and professional development training funded by the Government to be developed and delivered by CSIRO.
Program requirements
iPhD projects must:
- align with Australian Government and CSIRO priorities
- address an industry problem while complying with the university’s requirements of a PhD program
- be with an Australian industry partner or an industry partner with an Australian presence (Government and not-for-profits are excluded)
- be limited to domestic students
- include an Industry Engagement Component (minimum 3 months), conducting research under the guidance of the industry partner.
Universities must:
- provide a suitably experienced researcher to supervise the PhD student for up to four years
- lead student advertising, recruitment, and enrolment processes with support from CSIRO
- provide access to facilities and infrastructure if required for the project
- provide a fee off-set for the student
- monitor and assess the student in accordance with the university’s Higher Degree by Research policies.
Become a university partner
If you are a university researcher who has a project idea in mind, or work in a Graduate Research School and would like to learn more about how the program can be integrated into your university, please contact us.
Program intake dates
- Expressions of Interest (EOI) are accepted from February to May for the commencement of the following year. However, we may accept EOIs outside this these dates. Please contact us if you have an idea outside this time frame.
Program resources
- Program Rules PDF (268 KB)
- University Researcher marketing flyer PDF (497 KB)
- Supervisor Guidelines PDF (725 KB)
Contact us
If you work within the Graduate Research School or University Leadership and would like to learn more about how the program may be integrated into your university training system, please contact us.
If you are a university researcher who has a potential project idea in mind, please contact us.