PhD scholarship in Regenerative Entrepreneurship - DTU Entrepreneurship

Are you passionate about exploring how entrepreneurship can actively restore and regenerate social-ecological systems? Do you want to contribute to advancing knowledge and practice at the intersection of regeneration and entrepreneurship? If so, this PhD position in Regenerative Entrepreneurship may be the right opportunity for you.

The Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship (DTU Entrepreneurship) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) invites applications for a three-year PhD position in Regenerative Entrepreneurship, starting ideally on 02 January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

At DTU Entrepreneurship, we are committed to driving innovation and enabling positive social and economic transformation. We pursue evidence-based research and foster entrepreneurial capability development across education, industry, government, and civil society.

This PhD project will focus on studying and developing approaches and tools to support regenerative entrepreneurship. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on questions such as (but not limited to):

• How can entrepreneurship foster the regeneration of social-ecological systems?
• What are the key drivers and barriers influencing the adoption and scaling of regenerative entrepreneurship practices?
• Which approaches, tools, and practices best enable regenerative entrepreneurs to create lasting systemic impact?

The position offers a unique opportunity to join an international research environment and to contribute to shaping the emerging research stream of regenerative entrepreneurship.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The PhD candidate’s tasks will include both theoretical and empirical research on regenerative entrepreneurship. The candidate is expected to contribute to the theoretical advancement of the field, design and conduct empirical studies, analyze qualitative and/or quantitative data, and disseminate findings in leading international journals. The position therefore requires solid methodological skills, strong communication abilities, and an analytical mindset.

We are seeking a candidate with the following qualifications:

• A strong academic record, with foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, or management, and familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
• Curiosity and motivation to explore how entrepreneurship can contribute to regenerative and systemic solutions to societal and environmental challenges
• A genuine, long-term interest in pursuing an academic research career in sustainable and regenerative entrepreneurship
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (the working language of the project)
• The ability to work independently while also thriving in an interdisciplinary and international research environment

In addition, the following qualifications would be considered an advantage:

• A strong academic background and practical interest in sustainable or regenerative entrepreneurship
• Experience with scientific writing and dissemination of research results
• Experience with project coordination and collaboration across multiple stakeholders

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. Relevant fields include entrepreneurship, corporate sustainability, management, design and innovation, industrial engineering and management, or other related disciplines.

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. 

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. 

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 Associate Professor Francesco Rosati (frro@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU 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 26 October 2025 (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, including a brief description of your project ideas (cover letter, maximum four pages)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

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, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

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 start-up 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.