How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 10000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Mitacs — Business Strategy Internship?

Mitacs — Business Strategy Internship is funded by Mitacs

What are Mitacs — Business Strategy Internship's eligibility criterias?

The partner organization must contribute a minimum financial amount towards the intern stipend and possibly other project costs. The partner organization cannot have a conflict of interest with the intern or academic supervisor that has not been disclosed to Mitacs. The partner organization must collaborate with a Canadian academic institution participating in the Mitacs program.

Mitacs — Business Strategy Internship

grant_single|update April 29, 2025

Canada

Funding for R&D collaborations with students

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grant_single|openingDate August 23, 2021

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Wage Subsidies And Interns

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Mitacs

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The Mitacs Business Strategy Internship provides up to $15,000 in funding to support post-secondary students and postdoctoral researchers in driving innovation within Canadian businesses. The program facilitates collaborations that maximize business resources, improve processes, and achieve innovation goals.

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The Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program offers two funding models: $10,000 or $15,000 per intern.
In the $10,000 model, the full amount is allocated to the intern's stipend.
In the $15,000 model, up to $5,000 of the funds may be used for eligible project costs or to top up the intern's stipend, with the minimum stipend being $10,000.
Partner organizations are required to contribute a minimum of $5,000 in the $10,000 model, or $7,500 in the $15,000 model.
Funds are released to the academic institution once the partner's contribution is received and the project is approved.
Mitacs invoices the partner organization upon submission of the project proposal.
Funds will not be disbursed to the academic institution until after the partner organization has paid their invoice and the proposal is accepted by Mitacs.
Interns should not begin project work until funds have been disbursed to their academic institution.
All financial contributions are subject to applicable taxes (GST, HST, QST).
Academic institutions must submit a financial report to Mitacs once all project funds have been allocated.

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Development and enhancement of business innovation components such as marketing, operations, finance, or intellectual property.
Design and implementation of process efficiencies within partner organizations.
Creation and improvement of new products or services with collaborating companies.
Support for innovation strategies focusing on improving partner organization capabilities.
Projects addressing community challenges through business model innovation.
Exploration of organizational improvements in collaboration with partner sectors.
Application of specialized technical skills to support innovation projects.
Addressing specific organizational needs in process development or service delivery.

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$ 10,000

Developing a local sustainable food supply chain project

$ 10,000

Enhancing supply chain processes for eco-friendly packaging solutions

$ 10,000

Implementing an innovative marketing platform for local artisans

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Eligibility for the Business Strategy Internship grant requires partner organizations to meet certain criteria.

The partner organization must be able to contribute $5,000 to $7,500 towards the intern's award, based on the chosen funding model.
The partner organization must collaborate with interns and academic supervisors to co-design the project focused on business innovation components.
The organization should not be associated with any current, active conflicts of interest involving the intern.
The partner organization and academic institution must reach an agreement on intellectual property rights, aligned with the institution's IP policies.
The organization must have the capacity to supervise and support the intern for the duration of the internship.
The project proposed by the organization should not start until the approval letter has been received, and all funds have been processed by Mitacs.

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Registered postsecondary students at a Canadian academic institution
Undergraduate students from any discipline
Graduate students specializing in various fields
Postdoctoral researchers
Recent graduates from colleges and universities within two years of graduation
Part-time students meeting specific criteria, such as being covered under the institution’s insurance and able to commit to the internship
Individuals from various faculties or disciplines without restriction
Students or graduates associated with institutions recognized as Full, Associate, or Honorary partners of Mitacs

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A portion of the funds can be allocated to eligible project costs, up to $5,000, if the $15,000 funding model is selected.

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The economic and societal benefits of the proposed project, such as the potential impact on the creation or commercialization of Canadian intellectual property or technology, and the improvement of Canadian productivity through new processes.
The support for the development and deployment of skilled talents, including the training of interns and the development of professional and entrepreneurial skills.
The establishment and support of collaborations between academia, industry, and communities, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering partnerships.
The assessment of the project to ensure that it does not present major risks in terms of feasibility, economic impact, or national security.
The demonstration of appropriate risk mitigation measures for projects deemed high risk.

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Create an Account on RAP

Access the Mitacs Registration and Application Portal (RAP).
Create a user account if you don't have one.

Discuss with Mitacs Advisor

Contact your local Mitacs Advisor to discuss the eligibility and current availability of the Business Strategy Internship program funding.

Prepare Application

Utilize the proposal template available on the RAP.
Co-design a project proposal with your academic supervisor and partner organization.
Ensure the project addresses innovation components needed by the partner organization.

Complete Application

Fill out all sections in the RAP application form.
Obtain necessary signatures from the intern, academic supervisor, partner organization, and the Office of Research Services (ORS) or equivalent.

Submit Application

Upload the signed ORS page and completed project proposal to the RAP.
Submit the full application for review.

Partner Organization Contribution

Ensure the partner organization pays their financial contribution as invoiced by Mitacs once the application is submitted.

Waiting Period for Review

Allow approximately four weeks for Mitacs to review the application for eligibility and completeness.
Be prepared to make revisions if sections are incomplete.

Project Approval and Fund Release

Receive an Approval letter from Mitacs indicating project approval.
Wait for funds to be released to the academic institution once the partner contributions are received.
Ensure no project work begins until funds are received by the intern from the academic institution.

Project Execution

Begin the four to six-month project following the receipt of funds.
Hold regular meetings with academic and partner organization supervisors.

Final Reporting

Complete an exit survey within 30 days of project completion.
Ensure the academic institution submits a Financial Report to Mitacs.

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Interns are encouraged to validate program availability by contacting a local Mitacs Advisor before drafting their application due to limited availability of the Business Strategy Internship.
Mitacs provides online professional development courses through its e-Campus, EDGE, to enhance interns' skills.
Partner organizations have the option to select a funding model of $15,000, where up to $5,000 can be allocated for eligible project costs or to top-up the intern's stipend.
Interns and supervisors are required to meet weekly, either virtually or in-person, to ensure the project's objectives are being met.
To avoid conflicts of interest, BSI interns cannot have roles of ownership, employment, or influence at the partner organization, nor can they have close relationships with key personnel.
The release of project funds to academic institutions is contingent upon the partner organization completing its financial obligations to Mitacs.
Intellectual property (IP) rights generated during the internship will be governed by the policies of the Canadian academic institution involved, with no position taken by Mitacs.