Industrial CASE Account - University of Oxford 2020

The University of Oxford is training the next generation of engineers and scientists through a doctoral training partnership funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. This grant addresses a critical gap in the UK’s research pipeline: the need for skilled postgraduate researchers who can translate fundamental science into practical technologies. Without sustained investment in doctoral training, the country risks losing its competitive edge in fields such as advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, and sustainable energy. The partnership provides structured funding for students to pursue PhDs across Oxford’s engineering and physical sciences departments, ensuring a steady flow of talent into both academia and industry. If successful, this training programme will produce researchers capable of tackling real-world challenges—from improving battery storage for electric vehicles to developing more efficient water treatment systems. These are the kinds of infrastructure and manufacturing advances that quietly underpin modern life but rarely make headlines. The project is fundamentally about building human capital, not delivering a specific technology. Similar past investments in doctoral training have led to spin-out companies, patent filings, and innovations that now underpin everything from medical scanners to mobile phone networks.