PhD researcher at desk with research notes and whiteboard

For Universities

Industry mentorship for your PhD researchers. Twelve months. No recruiting.

We match individual PhD researchers with managing directors from German GreenTech mid-market companies. One session per month, digital, structured. No cooperation agreements, no quotas, no obligation for your university.

PhD researchers are matched one-to-one with an industry mentor for twelve months. Here is what that means — and what it does not.

01

Not a recruiting funnel.

Mentors are not looking to hire. No one is pushed toward applying.
02

Not an internship or placement.

No on-site presence at the company, no assignments, no evaluations.
03

No commitment afterward.

Mentorship ends after twelve months. No contract, no follow-up expectation.

01 Perspective

Industry perspective on their research.

How does a managing director from the German mid-market view a PhD topic? What application does someone with twenty years in the field see? PhD researchers get this outside view neither in their colloquium nor at academic conferences.
02 Core benefit

A personal industry network in Germany.

A mentor is more than a conversation partner. They open doors. Make further introductions. Help frame career options. For international PhD researchers facing pivotal decisions after their doctorate, this is a strategic lever.
03 Format

One hour a month that counts.

No additional event marathon. A single digital session per month, well prepared. Over twelve months, a relationship builds — not a networking event, but a true mentor relationship.

Path A Faculty · Doctoral committee · Supervision

When you supervise PhD researchers personally.

You know individual PhD researchers well. You know who is at the stage where industry perspective would help. And you know who is suited for a mentorship format.

Recommend specific individuals to us.

We reach out directly to the people you suggest. You stay informed throughout the process.
Path B Career Center · International Office · Doctoral programs

When you run Career Services or the International Office.

You have mailing lists, newsletters, event formats. You reach PhD researchers not personally, but structurally.

We provide ready-to-use materials for your channels.

In German and English. No co-branding obligation, no contracts.

01

Doctoral phase 2 to 4 years before completion.

We look for PhD researchers in the middle of their research phase. The mentoring effect lands when there is enough time left for reflection and direction-setting — not just before the defense.
02

Research field with GreenTech relevance.

We match by actual research fit — not by department label.
- Energy
- Mobility
- Hydrogen
- Materials
- Climate Tech
- Resources
- Bioeconomy
03

Willingness to mentor in English or German.

Mentors are German managing directors. English works in most tandems, German is a plus. We match pragmatically based on language preference on both sides.

EN Standard

DE Plus

01

Cooperation agreement with your university.

No agreement needed. No memorandum of understanding either.
02

Quotas or minimum number of recommendations.

One recommendation is just as welcome as ten.
03

Logo placement or co-branding.

We do not name your university anywhere publicly, unless you explicitly request it.
04

Involvement in selection interviews.

Selection of PhD researchers happens directly between GTT and the individual.

Foundation

A new initiative — built on solid experience.

GreenTech Talents is a new format. Built on 15 years of mentoring program experience — and on an active mentoring program we run as part of the Digital GreenTalents Award. The Award is organized by Gesellschaft für Informatik for the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, with project management by PTKA at KIT. From this work, we know the target group well: international PhD researchers navigating between research and industry.

// Founder 15+ years Mentoring experience Jörg Bielicke · Founder

// Program context Award 2025 Digital GreenTalents GI e.V. for BMFTR · PTKA at KIT

// Active program 20 / 12 Researchers · countries PhD researchers · current cohort

Jörg Bielicke, Founder of GreenTech Talents

Jörg Bielicke Founder · GreenTech Talents

Write directly to Jörg Bielicke. One sentence about the PhD researcher, one about the field — that is enough for a first contact.

Length 2–3 sentences
Language English / German
Reply Personal, typically within 24 hours

// Email j.bielicke@greentechtalents.de

// Subject suggestion "Recommendation — [Your university]"

This page is not for sales outreach. No form, no data collection — just a direct email.

Industry mentorship for your PhD researchers. Twelve months. No recruiting.

Not recruiting. Not an internship. Mentorship.

Not a recruiting funnel.

Not an internship or placement.

No commitment afterward.

Three things your department and conferences cannot deliver.

Industry perspective on their research.

A personal industry network in Germany.

One hour a month that counts.

Two paths, depending on your role.

When you supervise PhD researchers personally.

When you run Career Services or the International Office.

Which PhD researchers we look for.

Doctoral phase 2 to 4 years before completion.

Research field with GreenTech relevance.

Willingness to mentor in English or German.

What you don't have to do.

Cooperation agreement with your university.

Quotas or minimum number of recommendations.

Logo placement or co-branding.

Involvement in selection interviews.

A new initiative — built on solid experience.

Direct line to Jörg.