PhD position in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Scaling with an empirical focus on defense, security and intelligence organizations Copenhagen Business School in Denmark

PhD position at Copenhagen Business School in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Scaling, with an empirical focus on defense, security and intelligence organizations.

The Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC) invites applications for a three-year PhD scholarship beginning 1 February 2027. The position is hosted in the department’s Technology & Society research cluster, a growing research environment focused on how technology, society, organizations, and management shape one another. The broader department studies responsible management, organization, governance, culture, communication, and the relationship between business and society.

Research focus: The project should address innovation, entrepreneurship and/or business scaling in the context of defense, security, and intelligence organizations. Suggested themes include how innovations are developed in these settings, how organizational and technological development interact, how rapidly evolving technologies are used, collaboration across organizational boundaries, and how innovation and entrepreneurship drive organizational transformation. The empirical setting is expected to be challenging to access and observe, so applicants should engage this directly in the project design.

Funding and employment: This is a fully salaried PhD scholarship for three years. The scholarship includes tuition fees, office space, and course and travel costs, and also carries teaching obligations corresponding to 416 work hours. The monthly salary is approximately DKK 30,264 to DKK 36,877 depending on seniority, plus pension contribution.

Eligibility highlights: Applicants must have a master’s degree (or equivalent), a strong social-science background, a completed master’s program before the deadline, excellent academic English, and strong grades. The department prioritizes applicants with high grades, including a strong master’s thesis mark and either a high combined GPA or top-40% class ranking documentation.

Application requirements: Submit a five-page PhD project description containing an original research question, initial theory and method, proposed empirical material, and a three-year work plan. Also include transcripts and degree certificates, a concise CV, one sample of written work, and publication list if relevant. The department notes that shortlisted candidates may be asked for proof of English proficiency.

Deadline: 23 September 2026 at 12:00 (Europe/Copenhagen). Interviews are expected in late November/early December 2026. Apply through the CBS online application portal.

Institution: Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg/Copenhagen, Denmark.