How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 15000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Mitacs Accelerate?

Mitacs Accelerate is funded by Mitacs

What are Mitacs Accelerate's eligibility criterias?

Eligible entities include for-profit corporations and eligible not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, and hospitals in Canada. For-profit businesses and not-for-profit corporations operating outside of Canada can participate as additional partners on projects with a Canadian partner organization.

Mitacs Accelerate

Last Update: April 17, 2025

Canada

Connect organizations with academia for research and innovation collaboration

Mitacs Accelerate at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $7,500 to $15,000

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Researchers And Facilities

Partnering and Collaboration

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance

Grant Providers

Mitacs

Status

Open

Overview of the Mitacs Accelerate program

The Mitacs Accelerate program supports collaboration between academic institutions and public or private sector organizations, offering up to $15,000 per placement to facilitate applied research and innovation. Eligible activities include research internships for students at all post-secondary levels, which involve collaboration with industry partners to solve research challenges and commercialize results.

Financing terms and conditions

The Mitacs Accelerate grant offers structured funding modalities designed to support research and innovation collaborations between academia and industry. The financial terms are established to maximize both academic contributions and practical applications.

The contribution from the partner organization starts at $7,500 per internship unit (4 to 6 months) which is matched by Mitacs for a total research grant of $15,000 per unit.
Interns receive a minimum allowance/salary of $10,000 from each funding unit.
Partner organizations engaging in six or more internship units with at least three unique interns have the option to contribute $6,000 per unit, qualifying for a research grant of $13,333, maintaining a minimum intern allowance of $10,000.
Mitacs does not provide additional funds beyond the standard grant amounts, but partner organizations may increase their contributions at their discretion.

Eligible projects & activities

Research projects that pair partner organizations with top-level research talent to achieve business and innovation goals.
Execution of initiatives to identify new markets and commercialize results.
Projects that involve international collaboration options, allowing interns to interact remotely or travel to an international partner organization.
Research activities conducted in a non-academic environment to apply academic skills and broaden professional networks.
Innovative research-based internships conducted in collaboration with Canadian and international partner organizations.
Internships across all academic disciplines, available to students, postdocs, recent graduates, and other qualified individuals at Canadian institutions.
Internship activities that include both academic supervision and interaction with partner organizations.
Projects that comply with Mitacs Responsible Conduct of Research Policy and other applicable policies.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 25,000

Research and development of a new biodegradable packaging material with university collaboration

$ 35,000

Creating a market analysis for sustainable energy products in collaboration with local universities

$ 35,000

Commercialization of a new software solution for remote team collaboration through market research and analysis

$ 15,000

Developing an AI-driven financial analysis tool in collaboration with university experts

$ 45,000

Identifying new markets for eco-friendly home cleaning products through partnership with graduate students

$ 25,000

Development of a comprehensive marketing strategy for a new tech startup

Eligibility criteria of the Mitacs Accelerate program

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements for participating companies and organizations.

Eligible entities include for-profit corporations and non-profit organizations, municipalities, and hospitals operating in Canada.
Companies and non-profit organizations operating outside of Canada may be eligible as additional partners on projects with a Canadian partner organization.
Organizations must have an economic or productivity focus, especially if they are non-profit organizations, municipalities, or hospitals, as reviewed by peer evaluators.
All participating entities need to ensure interactions with the internship participants, whether on-site or virtually.

Who is eligible?

Canadian students and postdoctoral researchers from partner colleges and universities who are pursuing or have graduated in a variety of academic disciplines. The program also welcomes participation from individuals who have graduated recently, within two years, and international students who meet specific visa requirements. Eligible partner organizations include both for-profit and non-profit entities, municipalities, and hospitals across Canada. International businesses can participate as additional partners, given they collaborate with a Canadian organization.

Eligible expenses

The grant outlines that a portion of the funds must be used towards specific project-related expenses within the context of the grant.

A minimum of $10,000 allocated to the intern's stipend or salary per 4-6 month internship unit.
Up to $5,000 from the total grant amount can be used for research-related expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is accessible to companies in Canada with opportunities for international partners. Specific information about geographical eligibility within Canada is provided by contacting Mitacs advisors, especially for certain provinces.

All Canadian provinces and territories.
International partners when involved with a Canadian organization.

Eligibility criteria of the Mitacs Accelerate program

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives and requirements.

Innovation and originality of the applied research methodology.
Feasibility of the project plan and timeline.
Potential impact on industry partners and economic sectors.
Integration of student and research talent in solving industry challenges.
Contribution to knowledge transfer and commercialization opportunities.
Alignment with both academic and industrial objectives.

How to apply to the Mitacs Accelerate program

Review Eligibility and Policies

Consult Mitacs' Policy on the Responsible Conduct of Research.
Review eligibility criteria and guidelines on the Mitacs website.
Understand the specific requirements for non-Canadian partners if applicable.

Digital Application Process

Download the Acceleration digital application form.
Submit your application via the Acceleration Registration and Application Portal (PID).

Non-Digital Application Process

Download the Acceleration non-digital application form from the "Request" section.
Gather all required signatures from interns, supervising professors, and the organization's representative.
Send your application package to your Mitacs advisor.

Verification and Peer Review

Acknowledge that the peer review takes approximately six to eight weeks.
Mitacs contacts participants with results and relevant instructions.

Funding and Project Commencement

Wait for Mitacs to invoice the partner organization upon proposal submission.
Ensure that the organization partner’s contribution is paid so funds can be released to the educational institution.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The Mitacs Accelerate grant is transitioning towards a digital application process, eliminating paper submissions to improve the user experience through digital tools.
A new online application portal for the Accelerate program is available, and applicants should verify their projects meet the criteria for this digital process.
Funding is limited for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, requiring potential applicants in these areas to contact a Mitacs advisor before applying.
The Indigenous Pathway initiative has reached its project capacity for 2024-2025, and new projects can only commence from April 2025.
Invoices sent to partner organizations are refundable if the project application is unsuccessful, ensuring funds are only committed upon approval.
A survey summarizing project outcomes and experiences must be submitted at the project’s conclusion, contributing to program evaluation and improvements.
The international collaboration option allows interns to interact with international partner organizations either virtually or in person, aligning with the home institution's travel policies.