Post Docs in Companies, PoDoCo program, is a joint initiative of Finnish universities, industry and foundations. The aim of the PoDoCo program is to promote academic research supporting long term competitiveness and strategic renewal of Finnish companies, and the employment of young doctors in industry. PoDoCo facilitates novel meetings and matches of post docs and companies and offers young scholars funding from one source for academic research having strategic importance for Finnish companies. PoDoCo program is aimed for young doctors who have recently completed or will soon complete their doctoral degree. There is no limitations regarding the branch of science or branch of industry. Instead PoDoCo program is aimed for all branch of industries and all disciplines, e.g. natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural sciences, social sciences and humanities (OECD, Field Of Science And Technology Classification).

PoDoCo program is funded by PoDoCo foundation pool and companies participating in the program. For a PoDoCo researcher the program offers a research period followed by a targeted research period lasting all together 1-2 years. PoDoCo foundation pool offers research grants for the research period. After the research period the company hires the Post doc to deepen the research results and to create company specific insight. The result is a win-win situation where academic research is supporting the long term competitiveness and strategic renewal of Finnish companies and young doctors get industrial experience.

The idea of PoDoCo was generated by Prof. Yrjö Neuvo. The execution of PoDoCo started in 2015.