NSF rolls out ‘industry PhD’ programme — joining a global trend
Nature, Published online: 04 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02437-0 The US pilot programme will provide financial support for four years to more than 250 students, who will gain industry experience.
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched a new program aimed at bridging the gap between PhD students and industry. The Industry-Integrated PhD (I-PhD) Scholars Program will provide over 250 students with four years of funding, both from universities and the NSF. Students will also have the opportunity to gain hands-on industry research experience, with at least one year of that research occurring at the company's site, and an annual stipend of $37,000.
Industry partners, including Procter & Gamble, BP and Rolls Royce, will contribute at least $100,000 per student. The program aims to help graduates better apply their research to real-world challenges and to give companies a direct role in training doctoral researchers. While some researchers are excited about the potential benefits of this collaboration, others have expressed concerns about the feasibility of a guaranteed four-year PhD program.
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