Cooperation and research

If you need focused result development and specific studies, commissioned research is the appropriate form. Commissioned research implies that an organisation formulate an idea for a research idea. Usually, the aim is to scientifically review, analyse and develop a specific problem. The organisation is the client and "owns" the idea. The researcher(s) at the Department of Strategic Communication carry out the assignment according to the commissioned research agreement. The end product is new research results that you as a client can use and implement in your organisation.

Commissioned research should contribute to research benefits for the university. This means that results can be published and presented in academic contexts. This is done in consideration of matters of confidentiality and good research practice, which means, among other things, that informant identities are protected. Usually, the client has the opportunity to read the results and protect the data before publication. In some cases, the client chooses to own the results. In other cases, to have the right to utilise the results. Clients and researchers are recommended to draw up a commissioned research agreement in which questions of rights, publication and financial issues are regulated.

Commissioned research thus means that researchers at the Department of Strategic Communication carry out an assignment for another party, such as a company. The university is then obliged to charge a fee for the assignment that fully covers the university's costs for the project (full cost recovery).

Collaborative research means that researchers at the Department of Strategic Communication conduct research with one or more companies or organisations. The ideas underlying the collaboration are formulated by researchers, often with input from or in collaboration with participating organisations.

In collaborative research, all parties contribute funds in the form of financial resources, knowledge and materials. There are several national and international bodies that fund collaboration projects between universities, companies and organisations. Researchers at the Department of Strategic Communication know of various funding opportunities.

Since collaborative research does not entail full cost recovery for the university, the collaboration may not entail that the collaborating parties obtain the right to background knowledge or results generated at the university unless separate and market-based compensation is provided. Since the university is subject to the EU's state aid rules, an improper acquisition of such rights may be regarded as unauthorised state aid, which may entail a repayment obligation for the collaborating party for the support received.

As an organisation or company, you have the opportunity to fund a fulltime or part-time industrial doctoral student. The doctoral student provides expertise in a key area for your organisation. Usually a person employed by the organisation conducts the doctoral studies on a half-time basis. The research is often close to the organisation's operations and responds to challenges and needs in practice.

Funding a doctoral student combines direct results for your organisation in terms of increased skills and knowledge with academic challenges for an employee. The salary of the doctoral student is paid by the organisation.

The basic criteria for admission are eligibility for doctoral studies, which includes qualifications equivalent to a Master's degree in Media and Communication Sciences or equivalent.

Example of an industrial doctoral project at the Department of Strategic Communication:

Martina Smedberg

Johan Florén