The new Ferrero fellowship programme provides a monthly stipend from the company for up to five students at the Master’s level in law, finance, economics or innovation, and an internship programme will further assist students to obtain paid internships at the company, which is present in 53 countries and sells in more than double that.

Furthermore, the agreement also sets out a PhD partnership in which potential Ferrero candidates can pursue a PhD at the uni, while PhD candidates can work more closely with Ferrero.

Ferrero is a market leader in the chocolate confectionary business, perhaps best known for Nutella and its range of Kinder chocolates.

Ferro representative Bruno Conti, HQ HR director, explained that the programmes will “give new opportunities to young talents to grow even more, fostering the involvement in the business and related academic research, as well as a mutual exchange of ideas and new horizons.”

Professor Eric Tschirhart, who heads the technology transfer and fundraising office, echoed the sentiments about the partnership, which he says will “promote young talent and promote student excellence”.