Call for Funded PhD programme in Law, Management and Innovation Policies at UNINETTUNO, Italy

Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO is inviting applications for its PhD in Law, Management and Innovation Policies (DMPI). The doctoral programme is designed for early-stage researchers who want to develop advanced interdisciplinary expertise at the intersection of law, economics, management, innovation, and public policy.

The programme responds to some of the most significant challenges facing contemporary societies and economies. Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, the green transition, changing governance structures, industrial policy, sustainability, and new organizational models are reshaping both the public and private sectors. Through an interdisciplinary research environment, the PhD aims to prepare researchers capable of analysing and addressing these developments through innovative and high-impact research.

Key Details

Detail	Information
Programme	PhD in Law, Management and Innovation Policies (DMPI)
Host Institution	Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO
Country	Italy
City	Rome
Research Level	PhD / Doctoral Programme
Target Group	Early-stage researchers / postgraduate researchers with 0–4 years of experience
Research Areas	Law, management, economics, innovation policy, digital transformation, sustainability, AI, governance and ESG
Application Deadline	30 September 2026, 23:59
Research Location Eligibility	International
Residence Eligibility	International
Nationality Eligibility	International
Funding Organisation	Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO
Funding Organisation Type	Academic
Contact Email	p.torre@uninettunouniversity.net

About the PhD Programme

The PhD in Law, Management and Innovation Policies has been developed to train researchers who can work across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Rather than approaching technological, environmental, economic, and regulatory challenges from a single perspective, the programme combines legal, economic, and management expertise.

A central objective is to support research related to the digital and green transitions. These transformations are influencing how governments regulate markets, how companies organize their activities, how financial systems operate, and how societies respond to technological change. Doctoral researchers are therefore encouraged to investigate complex questions involving digital technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainability, innovation, economic regulation, and evolving governance models.

The programme also places significant emphasis on the relationship between research and real-world impact. Its interdisciplinary structure is intended to support research that contributes to innovation, competitiveness, sustainable development, and improved decision-making in both public and private organizations.

Interdisciplinary Research Areas

The doctoral programme brings together several disciplinary areas within law, economics, finance, and management. This broad academic foundation allows candidates to develop research projects that address complex issues from multiple perspectives.

Relevant areas include:

• Administrative and public law
• Commercial law
• Law of the economy and financial and agri-food markets
• Private law
• Applied economics
• Business economics
• Financial intermediaries and financial economics
• Business organization and management

The programme specifically covers the following Italian academic disciplinary classifications:

G.S.D.	S.S.D. / Research Area
12/GIUR-06 – Administrative and Public Law	GIUR-06/A – Administrative and Public Law
12/GIUR-02 – Commercial and Navigation Law	GIUR-02/A – Commercial Law
12/GIUR-03 – Law of the Economy and Financial and Agri-Food Markets	GIUR-03/A – Law of the Economy
12/GIUR-01 – Private Law	GIUR-01/A – Private Law
13/ECON-04 – Applied Economics	ECON-04/A – Applied Economics
13/ECON-06 – Business Economics	Not specified
13/ECON-09 – Financial Intermediaries and Corporate Finance	ECON-09/B – Economics of Financial Intermediaries
13/ECON-08 – Business Organization	ECON-08/A – Business Organization

Research Focus: Digital, Green and Institutional Transformation

A defining feature of the DMPI PhD is its focus on the transformations affecting institutions, businesses, markets, and society. Candidates may develop research projects connected to the growing influence of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, particularly where these developments raise new legal, economic, managerial, or governance questions.

Sustainability is another important dimension of the programme. Research may explore the transition toward environmentally sustainable economic models, evolving regulatory frameworks, corporate sustainability strategies, and ESG-oriented organizational models.

The programme also provides opportunities to investigate innovation and competitiveness in relation to industrial policy and economic governance. This makes it particularly relevant for researchers interested in understanding how public institutions, businesses, and markets can adapt to rapid technological and environmental change.

International and Collaborative Research Environment

The PhD programme is characterized by an international outlook and promotes collaboration with universities, research centres, and industry. This approach is intended to strengthen the connection between academic research and the practical challenges faced by organizations and institutions.

The programme is aligned with the University’s broader strategic objectives and with the research activities of its Faculty of Economics and Law. Candidates can therefore pursue interdisciplinary research while engaging with academic fields that connect law, economics, management, and innovation policy.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is aimed at early-stage researchers and postgraduate candidates, generally classified within the 0–4 years of research experience category. Because the call indicates broad international eligibility for candidate residence and nationality, prospective applicants should carefully review the official call for the precise admission requirements, qualifications, documentation, and any programme-specific conditions.

Applicants should also pay close attention to the requirements relating to the chosen research area and the disciplinary fit between their academic background, proposed research interests, and the objectives of the doctoral programme.

Funding Organisation

The programme is offered by Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO, an academic institution based in Rome, Italy.

Funding organisation details:

• Institution: Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO
• Type: Academic institution
• Country: Italy
• City: Rome
• Address: Via S. Martino della Battaglia, 44
• Postal Code: 00185

For further information about the University’s doctoral programmes, visit:

UNINETTUNO doctoral programmes

Application Deadline

The application deadline for this PhD opportunity is:

30 September 2026 at 23:59

Applicants should prepare and submit their application before the deadline and should not wait until the final hours in case additional documentation or technical submission requirements apply. This programme may be particularly attractive to candidates whose research interests do not fit neatly within a single academic discipline. The combination of law, economics, management, and innovation policy creates opportunities to investigate complex contemporary challenges from several perspectives.

Researchers interested in AI regulation, digital transformation, sustainable development, ESG, corporate governance, economic policy, financial markets, public regulation, or organizational innovation may find the interdisciplinary orientation of the programme especially relevant. The programme’s focus on collaboration with universities, research centres, and industry also supports a research environment connected to both academic debate and practical policy or organizational challenges.

How to Apply

Candidates should consult the UNINETTUNO doctoral admission call: https://www.uninettunouniversity.net/it/dottorati-di-ricerca-formazione.aspx for complete application instructions. Before submitting an application, prospective PhD candidates should carefully verify:

• The required academic qualifications.
• Eligibility requirements for international applicants.
• Required application documents.
• Research proposal or project requirements, where applicable.
• Selection and evaluation procedures.
• Any language requirements.
• Funding or scholarship conditions.
• The exact application submission process.
• For enquiries related to the opportunity, applicants can use the contact email: p.torre@uninettunouniversity.net