The interest in carrying out research interacting with a company and an educational establishment is increasing, show new figures from the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, writes the news agency Ritzau.

The tree year old BusinessPhD arrangement where students are dividing their time between business life and the academic world will this year reach up to approximately 160 applicants. This is the largest number so far.

The Danish government’s target is to establish 450 new research positions within the arrangement before 2010. The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Helge Sander who is very pleased with the fact that companies, universities and students are accepting the offer, says:

“The BusinessPhDs are a significantly successful example of bridge building and knowledge transfer between universities and companies. Therefore, another EUR 40 million has been earmarked in the coming years to ensure that all parts of Danish business life will be aware of the arrangement and be happy to use it."