BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Eligibility for this grant is determined based on the employer's ability to create a suitable work-integrated learning opportunity and adherence to the program's distinct criteria.

• The employer must be creating a work-integrated learning opportunity that meets the program criteria.
• The employer should be a biotechnology or healthcare organization, or the position should have a biotechnology or healthcare focus.
• The employer must ensure the student placement is additional to the baseline number of students previously hired and not funded by other Federal grants.
• Students must be added to the employer’s payroll with Federal/Provincial tax deductions.

Who is eligible?

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is available to Canadian employers that meet specific criteria related to biotechnology or healthcare and are looking to create work-integrated learning opportunities for students.

• Employers must provide work opportunities in biotechnology or healthcare fields.
• Employers can be any organization with a biotechnology or healthcare focus.
• Students hired must be enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution full- or part-time.
• Students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees legally entitled to work in Canada.

Who is not eligible

This grant does not specify restrictions related to certain companies or industries based on status or main activities. Eligibility is instead focused on meeting certain conditions related to bio-economy and healthcare functions.

Eligible expenses

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) supports projects that aim to enhance the job-readiness of students enrolled in various programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The eligible activities are focused on providing work-integrated learning opportunities within the bio-economy and healthcare sectors.

• Hiring students for roles with biotechnology or healthcare focus.
• Creating net new student placements that align with bio-economy or healthcare job functions.
• Engaging in projects aimed at developing business, technical, and essential skill sets of students.
• Offering part-time or full-time work opportunities for students, ensuring they meet the minimum duration and hour requirements.
• Utilizing wage subsidies to offset costs associated with hiring students from under-represented groups.
• Ensuring student placements contribute to the employer’s workforce strategy, developing talent for future recruitment needs.

Eligible geographic areas

The grant covers the wage subsidy for student placements to support work-integrated learning opportunities.

• Wage subsidies covering 50% of a student's salary up to $5,000.
• Wage subsidies covering 70% of a student's salary up to $7,000 for first-year students and under-represented groups.

Below are the evaluation and selection criteria for the Student Work Placement Program grant:

• Demonstrated need for funding to support student work placements
• Alignment of the proposed work placement with the program's objectives
• Clear plan for integrating the student into the organization and providing valuable work experience
• Commitment to support the student's learning and development
• Capacity to provide a safe and inclusive work environment for the student
• Potential for the work placement to lead to future employment opportunities

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Applications may be placed on a limited-capacity waitlist due to overwhelming demand, especially for summer-term placements.
• BioTalent Canada offers free access to new training programs once the placement is approved.
• The program is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program.
• Placements funded through stipends, scholarships, or bursaries do not qualify for this program.
• Student work placements must be considered net new hires, beyond a company's baseline hiring records.
• Employers must add students to their payroll including Federal/Provincial tax deductions.