Industrial CASE Account - University of Cambridge 2021

The Industrial CASE Account at the University of Cambridge funds PhD students who spend most of their time working inside a company rather than on campus. This matters because the UK needs more researchers who can move easily between academic discovery and commercial application. Traditional PhDs keep students in university labs, which can leave a gap between what science produces and what industry can use. This programme bridges that gap by embedding doctoral training directly into business environments. If the programme succeeds, it will produce a cohort of scientists and engineers who understand both fundamental research and real-world product development. These graduates could accelerate the translation of new materials, manufacturing processes, or diagnostic tools from the lab bench to factory floors and hospital wards. The companies involved gain early access to cutting-edge thinking, while students build networks and skills that make them more employable after graduation. This is primarily a training and skills initiative rather than a specific research project. Its impact will be measured in the careers of the people it produces, not in a single breakthrough.