How much funding can be received?

Get a grant when you partner with international researchers and universities to work on projects that benefit Canada by bringing talent here, creating domestically-held IP, increasing foreign investment and more.

Financing terms and conditions

Partner contribution starts at $7,500 per internship unit (4-6 months), which results in a $15,000 research award. Of the $15,000 award, the intern will receive a minimum $10,000 stipend or salary.
If a project includes 6 or more internship units with 3 or more interns, the partner organization can contribute $6,000 per internship unit, and this results in a $13,333 research award with a minimum $10,000 stipend to the intern.

Eligible projects & activities

Participation in interdisciplinary research projects that apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges.
Internships that facilitate on-site research and development activities within partner organizations.
Projects that require collaboration between Canadian academic institutions and international partner organizations.
Research projects benefiting from a combination of academic supervision and industry involvement.
Conducting research that involves the exchange of skills and expertise between academic and non-academic environments.
Opportunities for international collaboration and interaction in research settings.
Implementation of projects that enhance professional networks within academia and industry.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 15,000

Partner with University of Ottawa and National University of Singapore to study AI ethics

$ 15,000

Collaborate with Université de Montréal and Tsinghua University to innovate in public health systems

$ 15,000

Partner with a university and University of Copenhagen for climate change impact studies

$ 15,000

Develop AI-driven financial modeling tools in collaboration with University of Toronto and ETH Zurich

$ 15,000

Work with University of British Columbia and University of Tokyo on marine biodiversity research

$ 15,000

Collaborate with McGill University and Heidelberg University to research renewable energy storage solutions

Eligibility criteria of the Mitacs Accelerate International program

Applicable to students and postdoctoral fellows at Mitacs partner colleges and universities in Canada.
Postdoctoral fellows must have graduated from a PhD program less than five years prior to the proposed start date, with exceptions for extenuating circumstances such as parental leave or military service.
Applicants must not have been employed full-time at the partner organization prior to applying.
Recent graduates must have graduated within two years prior to the start of their project and are eligible at the academic institution's discretion.
Non-degree students (diploma, certificate, etc.) are eligible at the academic institution's discretion.
Visiting students and researchers at Canadian academic institutions who are completing a degree at a university abroad may be eligible at the discretion of the Canadian institution.
Interns must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, international students (with a student visa), or international postdoctoral fellows (with a valid work permit), and must be at least 18 years old.
Open to all academic disciplines.
For-profit corporations, eligible not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, and hospitals in Canada can participate.
For-profit businesses and not-for-profit corporations operating outside of Canada are eligible as additional partners for projects with a Canadian partner organization.

Who is eligible?

For-profit corporations in Canada
Eligible not-for-profit corporations in Canada
Municipalities in Canada
Hospitals in Canada
For-profit businesses operating outside of Canada (as additional partners with a Canadian organization)
Not-for-profit corporations operating outside of Canada (as additional partners with a Canadian organization)

Eligible expenses

Intern salaries or stipends (a minimum of $10,000 per four-month period).
Additional partner contributions used for stipend/salary top-up or specialized equipment, as specified in the application budget.
Expenses as outlined by Tri-Agency eligible expenses and the Mitacs Use of Funds policy (refer to Mitacs' official Use of Funds policy for precise details).
Insurance coverage, if necessary and in accordance with institutional policies.
Travel expenses in accordance with the academic institution’s policies on international travel and project requirements.

Eligibility criteria of the Mitacs Accelerate International program

Whether the proposed project qualifies as research in its discipline.
Appropriateness of the project for the academic degree level of the intern(s).
Clarity of the project objectives.
Suitability of the methodology to achieve the stated objectives.
Realism of the project timeline.
Assessment of prior work that should be considered by the researchers.
Potential for adverse effects on the environment and, if necessary, recommendation for an additional environmental impact review.

How to apply to the Mitacs Accelerate International program

Prepare Your Proposal

Review eligible research and adjudication criteria.
Refer to the "Writing Your Proposal" guide and familiarize yourself with policies.
Draft a detailed project proposal using the Mitacs Accelerate template (note that only the latest version of the template is accepted).

Get Feedback and Collect Signatures

Obtain feedback on your proposal from all participants and your Mitacs Advisor.
Gather all required signatures from the intern(s), professor(s), partner contact, and university Office of Research Services or equivalent.

Submit Your Proposal Package

Email your completed proposal package to your Mitacs Advisor.

Address International Travel Specifications

For projects involving international travel, ensure additional documents such as International Pre-departure form and Code of Conduct are prepared and submitted post-proposal.
Ensure that funds will not be released until these forms are received by Mitacs if submitted post-proposal.

Additional information

Interns must interact regularly with both their academic supervisor and partner organization throughout the project.
An exit survey summarizing project results and experiences must be completed by the intern at the end of the project.
For projects with multiple internships, each intern is responsible for their individual steps, including maintaining student or postdoc status for the duration of the project.
Intellectual property developed during the project is managed according to the academic institution's policies, with Mitacs claiming no ownership.
Partner organizations' financial contributions are subject to applicable GST, HST, or QST (value added taxes).
Participants are expected to read and adhere to the Accelerate Code of Conduct and other relevant Mitacs policies.
The program encourages adding the Accelerate internship and Mitacs Training courses to the intern’s CV and LinkedIn profile.
If a project or internship is cancelled, any remaining funds must be returned to Mitacs.
There are digital and non-digital application processes; eligibility for the digital application depends on certain project criteria.
Orientation and certain skills development courses are recommended to maximize the internship experience.
The Indigenous Pathways initiative is closed for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and will reopen in April 2025.
Mitacs Accelerate supports both in-person and virtual interaction with partner organizations, allowing hybrid or fully remote internships where feasible.
Interns can only start their internship after Mitacs confirms receipt of the partner organization's payment.
A Mid-Term survey is conducted at the midpoint of each internship unit to monitor progress and gather feedback.
Certificates of Completion are available to interns/postdocs in the Mitacs e-campus (EDGE) after the exit survey is submitted.