A Different Approach to Doctoral Training
The Venture Science Doctorate is a fully funded, three-year PhD program that replaces the traditional research model with a focus on venture development. The program enables participants to define their own research directions and develop scalable technological solutions that address specific societal outcomes.
SPRIND is supporting this year’s expansion by funding five doctoral scholars who will focus on innovation in climate resilience, sustainable energy, water security, pandemic preparedness, and pediatric oncology.
Integrating Research and Entrepreneurship
Deep Science Ventures has supported the launch of numerous science-based startups and collaborates with leading investors including Bill Gates, Sam Altman, and Patrick Collison. VSD scholars follow a structured pathway from research to venture creation, with full financial support including living stipends, research, and travel costs. Participants gain access to a global network of over 30 academic and industry partners – including the Mayo Clinic, Imperial College London, EMBL, and VDE – and receive commercial training and investor preparation through DSV’s venture-building framework and AI-driven tools.
Helmholtz Munich’s Role in the Program
As a key partner, Helmholtz Munich will provide technical input on research themes, co-supervise successful doctoral projects on its campuses, promote interdisciplinary collaboration across the Helmholtz Association, and support prototyping and commercialization with global partners. This collaboration forms part of the broader Biomedical Engineering Initiative recently initiated by Helmholtz Munich, which aims to accelerate solutions and company formation across the Helmholtz Association.
“What we need are people who make it their career not to discover, but to find solutions,” so Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos, Director of the Bioengineering Center at Helmholtz Munich.
Call for Applications
The Venture Science Doctorate is accepting applications for the January 2026 cohort. The program is open to candidates from diverse backgrounds interested in developing scalable science-based ventures.
Interested in joining the Venture Science Doctorate Program?