USYD-UofG Collaborative PhD Scholarship

This collaborative PhD scholarship offers a unique opportunity to investigate mission-oriented innovation policies (MIPs) and their orchestration through digital platforms, focusing on comparative case studies in Australia and Europe. Mission-oriented innovation has emerged as a key response to grand societal challenges such as climate change, inequality, and public health crises. However, the implementation and coordination of these missions across sectors and government levels remain complex, often determining their success or failure. Policymakers are increasingly turning to digital and hybrid platforms to convene, align, and enable collaboration among diverse stakeholders, yet most existing platform theory is rooted in for-profit contexts, leaving gaps in understanding and guidance for societal missions.

The project aims to develop new theory on platform-enabled orchestration for mission-driven innovation, using qualitative methods including interviews, digital trace analysis, and policy/document review. It will examine the EU’s Horizon Europe missions and platforms (such as NetZeroCities), as well as Australian mission-style initiatives like CSIRO, MRFF, and NRF, focusing on their coordination infrastructures. By comparing the supranational EU system with Australia’s national, sectorally structured approach, the research will generate transferable insights and practical frameworks for mission platform design and governance.

Students will be based at two world-leading business schools: the University of Sydney Business School (USYD) and the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow (UofG). USYD is renowned for its innovative business education and research, holding triple accreditation and offering a supportive, collaborative research environment. UofG’s Adam Smith Business School, also triple-accredited, is part of a prestigious Russell Group university with a rich intellectual heritage and a strong commitment to impactful research. The successful candidate will spend years one and three at USYD and year two at UofG, benefiting from international supervision and training across business, management, economics, and information systems.

The scholarship provides generous funding: an annual stipend of $AUD 42,754 (2026 rate) for three years, tuition fees covered for both domestic and international students, and a one-off Sydney Global Mobility Joint PhD Travel Scholarship ($5000 AUD). The programme is full-time and commences in January 2027. Applicants must have a First Class Honours degree or a Master’s by Research with outstanding results (at least 80%), have completed a substantial thesis, and be able to study full-time. They must demonstrate interest in the research topic, meet entry requirements for both USYD and UofG, and commit to spending time at both institutions.

This project is ideal for candidates interested in business, management, policy, digital platforms, and innovation. It offers the chance to contribute to academic theory and produce practical, policy-relevant outputs for mission stakeholders, including frameworks, policy briefs, and toolkits. Apply by April 21, 2026, via the FindAPhD link, ensuring you meet all eligibility criteria and prepare the necessary documentation.