PhD in Global Talent Interdependence and Europe’s Strategic Innovation Ambitions

Project Overview

Talent is a critical yet scarce resource in modern innovation systems, especially in Europe where technological sovereignty and competitiveness are pressing concerns. Geopolitical tensions and migration restrictions challenge the mobility of researchers, affecting global knowledge networks. This PhD project studies Europe's strategic innovation ambitions in relation to the mobility of STEM PhD recipients, combining economic geography and innovation studies. Using large longitudinal datasets of PhD recipients, publication, patent and career data, the project will explore how training and international mobility influence innovation outcomes.

What You Will Do

• Design and conduct research on global talent interdependencies and innovation;
• Collect, process, and analyze large-scale datasets including publications, patents, and career trajectories;
• Write and publish research papers;
• Present findings at conferences, workshops, and seminars;
• Complete a doctoral dissertation within four years;
• Contribute to teaching activities of the department (about 10%).

Expected Outcomes

The project will produce original insights into the mobility of global talent and its role in Europe's innovation landscape. It will develop unique, rich datasets combining multiple sources and employ quantitative and mixed-method approaches to investigate policy-relevant questions at the nexus of innovation, migration, and geography.

Why This Matters

The research addresses critical questions about Europe’s ability to maintain competitiveness and technological self-reliance in the face of geopolitical challenges. Understanding how international talent movements shape innovation is essential for policy-making that supports sustainable growth and resilience in science and technology sectors.