PhD in organizing innovation in China

The Department of Organization at Copenhagen Business School invites applications for a vacant PhD scholarship within the field of organizing innovation. The scholarship is part of a research project on China’s role in world-class science infrastructure hosted at the Sino-Danish Centre in Beijing. The aim of this project is to analyse the interactions between: innovation policy, ecosystems of innovation, science-technology-innovation policy, mobility and attractiveness for international talents, innovation networks, technology transfer, and science collaboration/innovation networks. Empirically the focus is on the development of Huairou Science City, e.g. by taking on a holistic perspective to one or more specific case technologies (e.g. energy, nano-science, neuro-science). In this, the project will also look into ongoing and potential collaborations between Danish and Chinese scholars in a time of uncertainty. Relatively little is known about the role of China in the process of organizing global science, technology and innovation. This scholarship steps into this breach. Applications are encouraged from those with some experience of International Political Economy and the political economy of China. Chinese language ability is preferred, although not essential. The selection of the PhD stipend will not be based on prior methodological or theoretical preferences. However, applications should outline and reflect upon theoretical and methodological preferences. The holder of the scholarship will work within the fields of International Political Economy, economic sociology, organization studies, business and politics, economic geography, historical sociology and China studies.

IOA is an international department comprising 55 faculty, 35 PhD students, and 11 administrative staff. We pursue a problem-oriented, business in society approach to understanding and intervening in work places, organizations and networks. Our research is focused upon organizing processes and their outcomes and driven by an interest in organization and management as a practical, situated, contested and changing matter. This includes studies of private companies, public organizations, professional societies as well as NGOs. We investigate and discuss topics such as change and innovation processes, work and human resources, public management and governance, project management, institutional dynamics, market creation, expertise and power.

Our social-scientific approach includes scholarly traditions such as organization theory, sociology, political economy, economic geography, social psychology, and science and technology studies. We value qualitative methods highly and typically employ case studies, ethnographic methods, or social network analysis.

The teaching responsibilities associated with the scholarship comprise graduate teaching and supervision in subjects such as Business and Global Governance, Government and Business, Research Policy and Comparing Societies and Economic Systems.

The Department will give priority to applicants with high grades from their universities.

The three-year PhD programme at CBS allows candidates to conduct research under the co-supervision of CBS and University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences professors, supported by research training courses. The programme is highly international, and you are expected to participate in international research conferences and to spend time in China. See the CBS homepage for more information about the PhD program, http://uk.cbs.dk/phd .

It is also required that the applicant shows an interest in joining the Department’s research environment, see http://uk.cbs.dk/ioa

Please be aware, that the PhD project involves funding from Sino Danish Center/SDC, and therefore the PhD student: 

• is required to spend time in a Chinese research environment. The specific period depends on the funding model, in this PhD case it is a full SDC scholarship which requires 12 months in a SDC/Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) research environment. 
• is expected to contribute to the educational activities on the SDC Master's programs in Beijing during their stay in China. 

See the SDC’s website on the specific requirements: http://sdc.university/research/phd/   Please note that it is not possible to get exemption from these conditions. 

Copenhagen Business School has a broad commitment to the excellence, distinctiveness and relevance of its teaching and research programs. Candidates who wish to join us should demonstrate enthusiasm for working in an organization of this type (highlighting, for example, relevant business, educational and dissemination activities)

For further information please contact: Associate Professor Stine Haakonsson, tel.: +45 3815 3124, e-mail: [email protected] .  Information about the department may be found at www.cbs.dk/ioa .

Appointment and salary will be in accordance with the Ministry of Finance’s agreement with the Central Academic Organization.

General information:

A PhD scholarship runs for a period of 3 years, and includes teaching obligations equivalent of ½ year’s work (840 work hours) to be in large part conducted at the Sino-Danish Centre in Beijing. The scholarships are fully salaried positions, according to the national Danish collective agreement. The scholarship includes the tuition fees, office space, travel grants plus a salary, currently starting with per month app. DKK 28,365 up to DKK 34,256 depending on seniority, plus a pension contribution totaling 17,1 % of 85 per cent of the base salary. 

The salary level and appointment is determined by the Ministry of Finance’s collective agreement with the Central Academic Organization.

The PhD student will be enrolled at the CBS PhD School. The candidate will have the possibility of obtaining a double degree from Copenhagen Business School and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The candidate is obliged to spend 12 of the 36 months of the stipend in China.

To be considered, the candidate should have a basic training at the Masters level (similar to the 3 + 2 Bologna process). An educational background in the social sciences is necessary. The applicant must have successfully completed the Masters degree before commencing a PhD at CBS. The applicant must be fluent in English.

The application must include:

• A project description (max. 5 pages): This research proposal should contain a presentation of an original research question, a description of the initial theoretical framework and research methodology, a presentation of the suggested empirical material as well as a work-plan in the form of a Gantt Chart, and finally a brief outline of how the project would fit within the framework of the collaborative research project.  
• Copies of a Master’s degree certificate or other certificates of a corresponding level.   
• Brief curriculum vitae (CV).   
• A list of papers and publications.   
• One copy of a selected written work (e.g. Master’s thesis).   
• Documentation for English language skills if English is not mother tongue.

Recruitment procedure:

The Recruitment Committee expects to shortlist at least five applicants to be assessed by the Assessment Committee. All applicants will be notified of their status in the recruitment process shortly after the application deadline.

Applicants selected for assessment will be notified about the composition of the Assessment Committee and later in the process about the result of the assessment.  Once the recruitment process is completed each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application.

Please find guidelines and further information on scholarships and the Doctoral Programme at http://uk.cbs.dk/phd .

Application must be sent via the electronic recruitment system, using the link below.  

Copenhagen Business School must receive all application material, including all appendices (see items above), by the application deadline.

Details about Copenhagen Business School and the department are available at www.cbs.dk .  

The envisaged starting date of the position is as soon as possible, at the latest December 1, 2022. This date is open to some negotiation but note the stipend must commence in 2022.

Closing date: August 20, 2022.