The proposal addresses one of the most acute problems in Serbian HE: harmonization of doctoral studies with the needs of academia, industry and society at large, as well as with the current EU practice. The wider objective of this project as a structural measure is to restructure doctoral studies in Serbia in line with the Bologna Process and Salzburg Principles, emphasizing quality of research and integrative processes which involve universities, research institutes and industry, and result in the establishment of Doctoral Schools. The specific objectives are: a) to reconsider in detail the existing national policies/standards for doctoral studies in RS and to develop new ones, better adapted to the current experiences and needs, including a new bylaw on public funding of doctoral studies based on doctoral research projects b) to restructure doctoral studies in RS in order achieve a synergy between scientific research Institutes and Universities and compatibility with the needs of industry c) to develop the concept of joint doctoral studies at intra university and inter university levels in the form of Doctoral Schools, and to implement four models in the selected fields (Material Sciences, Cyberphysical Systems, Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences) . The Project will generate as outputs/outcomes improved QA standards for doctoral studies, new bylaws for public funding of doctoral studies and research policy for doctoral studies and a roadmap for cooperation with industry and civil sector. A new bylaw for the establishment of Doctoral Schools, which integrates HEI's and contributes to the improvement of the position of students as young researchers, will be adopted, together with the corresponding accreditation standards, including joint doctoral degrees. Four Doctoral Schools in the above mentioned fields will be established in order to check the newly defined structure; the study programs will be accredited and the first group of students enrolled.