The UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a government-funded granting agency, has created collaborative PhD studentships that link doctoral students at participating universities with drugmakers and other industrial partners.

The £18.9-million (US$23.9-million) investment in the Collaborative Training Partnerships programme will train 189 PhD students for careers in bioscience. The ten lead industrial partners are AstraZeneca, Berry Gardens Growers, Croda International, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, MedImmune, Mondelez UK, Unilever UK and Waitrose.

Other companies and organizations are also taking part along with member universities; projects will be agreed between the industrial partners and collaborating institutions. The first round of studentships launches in October 2017 with additional rounds in October 2018 and 2019. Information for applicants will be available through the respective universities.