Digital technologies have developed very rapidly, faster than any other innovation in our history. Digital technologies can help to solve many world's problems such as health, sustainability etc., but technologies can also threaten privacy and erode security. They have implications for human rights and human agency. Digital technologies have undoubtedly impacted citizens, businesses and society as a whole. Digital transformation is the result of digitization and modernization of societies. It facilitates improvement, renewal and creation of something new and provides brand new opportunities and perspectives for radical change and innovation in almost every value chain, industry and business model. Digital transformation involves a wide range of digital technologies, from 5G to Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Internet of Things. Their rapid evolvement requires new knowledge and skills, novel concepts and approaches that makes the higher education institutions to be the frontier runners in the process of digital transformation.
The transformative research involves ideas, discoveries and tools that radically change an understanding of existing scientific or engineering concept and includes educational practice that may lead to the creation of a new paradigm in science and education. Such research questions alter the current understanding and provide pathways to new frontiers. The PERSEUS Doctoral Programme builds upon this initiative and further enhances the NTNU vision, activities and dedication to become a key contributor towards digital transformation along the sustainable development goals.
The PERSEUS DP is a unique and complex framework programme. PERSEUS considers that only an integrated knowledge development along thematic areas in synchronization with interdisciplinary skills would lead to a paradigm shift, produce research outcomes of an outstanding scientific quality and contribute to all sustainable development goals. The integrated approach has been embedded in the conceptual design of the PERSEUS DP and is reflected in supervision schemes, substantial training modules, interactions via workshops, conferences and hybrid seminars and further enhanced by international and intersectoral mobility options. Such integrated and multi-level approach will foster the ESR groups learning, lead to better scientific outcomes and enable solving the societal challenges in a unique way.
PERSEUS DP planned to employ 40 PhD candidates with an aim to pursue transformative research on design, development and application of digital technologies along the strategic business sectors in Norway. The project uses a set of digital skills and transferable skills, adopts interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach and explores opportunities presented by national and international partners from academia and industry to prepare the top-level researchers who contribute to smart, safe and sustainable future. The career perspectives of the PhD candidates will be boosted by short-term placements at academic partners, and short-term placements at companies or public entities that have established their R&D teams in Norway.
