What is Mitacs?

Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to prepare the next generation for the Canadian knowledge and innovation economy. It is funded by the federal and provincial governments. Mitacs works with partners in the private, public, and academic sectors to support collaborative research projects.

Mitacs grants

Who are the grants for? All full-time or part-time students enrolled in a professional or research program at master’s or PhD level are eligible for Mitacs grants, as are postdoctoral researchers. International scholars are eligible but must obtain the necessary work or study permit.

What are the grants for? Mitacs grants are for students to carry out research or innovation projects in partnership with sectors outside of academia.

A recipient of a Mitacs grant is known as an “intern”, as the project takes the form of an internship in which the individual collaborates with a professor offering academic supervision, as well as a non-academic partner. Part of the internship must take place on the partner’s premises. This allows the intern to bring their academic knowledge to a non-academic environment and acquire new skills which will serve them as they integrate into the world of work following their studies. The internship may or may not be part of their academic progress. This decision must be made in consultation with the academic supervisor.

How much money is available? There are various Mitacs grants - described below - to meet the different objectives the partner, the intern, and the professor may have. The funding given to the intern varies by program but starts at $6,000.

How long does the internship last? The duration of the internship depends on the research or innovation project, and on the academic level of the intern. One internship lasts four to six months. Award recipients can carry out multiple internships; the number they are authorized to carry out depends on their academic level:

• A master’s student can carry out up to four internships
• A PhD student can carry out up to eight internships
• A postdoctoral researcher can carry out up to nine internships

When can I apply? The deadlines for applying to the various Mitacs grant programs are listed in the table below.

See examples of previous Mitacs internships in your discipline: Projects | Mitacs

Who is eligible to be a partner organization?

• Incorporated companies
• Incorporated not-for-profit organizations (NFPs)
• Incorporated foundations
• Municipalities or municipal organizations
• Hospitals (under certain conditions)

Who chooses the partner organization?

The person receiving the award can identify a partner organization for themselves. However, it is often the case that the academic supervisor already has a partnership in place for which they wish to recruit interns. We therefore advise you to discuss your intention to carry out a Mitacs internship with your academic supervisor so they can help you find a partner organization.

How to find a partner organization?

Solution 1: Consult the pool of open projects currently available on the Mitacs website: Open projects.

Solution 2: Find a partner yourself. Contact an organization representative:

1. Explain the advantages of accepting you as an intern: academic expertise, low internship cost, a potential future employee
2. Inform yourself about the deliverables that would be demanded of you (a report, a consultation, a pamphlet, etc.)
3. Ask about the organization’s financial contribution - they must pay part of the grant. The partner organization’s financial contribution is generally 50% (for example, $7,500 out of $15,000), but sometimes a reduced amount is offered temporarily (for example, $3,750 out of $15,000). It is also possible for multiple partner organizations to contribute to the grant.

More information is available here: FAQ | Mitacs

What are the responsibilities and obligations involved in a Mitacs project?

The obligations of all involved parties can be found here: Project responsibilities | Mitacs

Process for obtaining a Mitacs award 

Visou Ady, PhD. Neurosciences
vady@mitacs.ca