The importance of science-based evidence for policy making is increasingly recognised by the decision makers and finds resonance in academia. To enhance the science-policy interface, the JRC is launching a new Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme in cooperation with universities from the EU Member States and countries associated to the EU Horizon 2020 research programme. The partnership will offer opportunities to a new generation of doctoral students, with particular focus on research for policy-making.
Through the CDP the JRC seeks to establish strategic collaborations with universities with international reputation in science and technology and participate in providing doctoral studies to a new generation of students. Participation in the scheme will allow acquiring sensitivity to the needs of the science-policy interface, ability to understand the research needs at different stages of the policy cycle, and acquire new skills in science communication.
In practical terms it will mean shared development of research programmes, hosting and supervising doctoral studies between universities and the JRC.
The partnerships should also lead to strengthened collaboration between the JRC and universities by promoting mutual enhancement of related skills and competences, combining knowledge, capacities, and networking in key scientific areas.
In the pilot phase of the project launched on 19 December 2016, six thematic areas will be fostered: energy and transport modelling, soil and land use change, bio-economy and forests, machine learning, genomics and bioinformatics, and nuclear decommissioning and waste management.
Further information on application details is available on the CDP webpage.