PhD scholarship in Tensions in Corporate-Startup Relationships – DTU Entrepreneurship

DTU, The Technical University of Denmark, Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship invites applicants for a 3-year PhD position on “Identifying and Managing Tensions in Corporate-Startup Relationships”, starting on 1 October 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter in 2024.
DTU, The Technical University of Denmark, Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship invites applicants for a 3-year PhD position on “Identifying and Managing Tensions in Corporate-Startup Relationships”, starting on 1 October 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter in 2024.

There has been substantial growth in corporate-startup collaborations, which occur through various vehicles such as innovation/digital labs, accelerators, corporate venture capitals, partnerships, and incubators. While there are clear motivations for corporates and startups to collaborate, data shows that many of these collaborations fail due to tensions within the corporate-startup relationships. However, there has been a lack of understanding regarding these tensions.

The existing literature on corporate-startup tension has primarily developed within the empirical context of corporate venture capital and strategic alliances. For instance, it has focused on tensions arising from the misappropriation risk of intellectual property rights (i.e., the sharks dilemma), how open the parties should be in sharing vs. protecting knowledge with the partner (i.e., the openness paradox), or misaligned strategic orientations. However, there are tensions that the literature has not examined despite their existence within the phenomenon. Additionally, the literature has been silent about the theoretical drivers of tensions and lacks empirical evidence regarding which tension management strategies work and which do not.

This PhD project aims to identify different types of tensions in corporate-startup relationships, examine the drivers behind these tensions, and explore effective strategies for managing and coping with them to achieve positive collaboration outcomes.

Thus, the PhD candidate will explore research questions such as (but not limited to):

• What type of tensions do corporates and startups face in their relationship?
• What are the drivers of tensions in corporate-startup relationships?
• How can the tensions in corporate-startup relationships be managed and coped with to produce positive performance outcomes? For example, can digital platforms be used to mitigate the tensions?

Responsibilities and tasks
We are looking for an ambitious candidate for a PhD project (3-year, full-time) to focus on the project topic. We expect the candidate to perform rigorous and relevant research using qualitative and quantitative research methods and extend collaborations with key academic and industrial partners at national and international levels. We also expect the candidate to disseminate their research findings in leading academic and practice-oriented journal outlets.

Qualifications
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Candidates should have a master's degree in management, innovation, strategy, entrepreneurship, industrial engineering, economics, or other relevant fields.

In addition, we are seeking a candidate with the following specific qualifications:

• An outstanding academic record, basic knowledge about management, innovation, or entrepreneurship, and familiarity with qualitative or quantitative research methods
• A longer-term interest in pursuing a research career
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:

• Academic performance during BSc/MSc education
• Research experience and output
• Strength in qualitative or quantitative research methods
• Experience in corporate and/or startup, other collaborative innovation environments, if any
• International experience
• Social and Communication skills

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

We expect the PhD project to start by 1 October 2024 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Assistant Professor Euiju (Eugene) Jeon, email: [email protected] or Professor Jason Li-Ying, email: [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship at www.entrepreneurship.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 30 June 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A writing sample in English (either a master’s or bachelor’s thesis, or a term paper from a research-based coursework)
• Name, title, relationship, and contact information of two academic references

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Entrepreneurship is amongst the leading international entities in technology entrepreneurship and helps develop an entrepreneurial culture across DTU. As part of a dynamic and evolving ecosystem, we combine practice-oriented education and research in entrepreneurship with real startup opportunities from all DTU departments. With rigorous research at its core, the Centre builds the entrepreneurial capabilities of students, industry leaders, academics and policymakers to address unsolved problems, and together create new knowledge, methodologies and initiatives. We enable ethically minded entrepreneurs to build solutions that benefit people, society and the world. The Centre experiments with new entrepreneurial methodologies and activities to push boundaries within research and education.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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