Last updated:  16 October 2024

Mitacs Inc. is a Canadian not-for-profit organization that supports student research and innovation projects through a number of different programs for both domestic and international opportunities.  Senior undergraduates (third year and above), master's and PhD students, as well as post-doctoral fellows at Lakehead are eligible to participate. Unless otherwise noted, international students are eligible, and all disciplines are eligible.

1.  Mitacs Accelerate (undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows)

CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Accelerate supports research collaborations between the university and for-profit corporations and eligible not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, and hospitals in Canada, as well as for-profit businesses outside of Canada (Accelerate International).  Undergraduate students can complete up to 3 internship units (each unit is four months in duration), master's students can complete 4 units, and PhD students up to 8 units. Total awards are $10,000-15,000 per internship unit.  Partner organizations must be willing to host the intern for 50% of the project duration and must also contribute $7,500 in cash funding per internship unit. Applications are submitted through the Office of Research Services; contact:  Lexi Haslehurst,  nserc.research@lakeheadu.ca.  Please see the following document as well.

2.  Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA)  (undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows)

Standard stream: OPEN CALL - apply 4 - 6 months in advance - GLOBAL

Partnership stream - review partner requirements (some are call-based, some are open call)

Globalink Research Awards provide funding for short-term international research stays in over 50 eligible countries (see the Mitacs website for the current list of eligible countries).  Students propose a research project, to be co-supervised by a Lakehead supervisor and a host supervisor.  Successful applicants will receive a CAD 6,000 award to support a 12-16 week research stay.  Applications should be submitted approximately 4-6 months before the desired start date (e.g. apply by January for a summer project). Applicants have one year from the date of approval to start the project.

International students are eligible to participate in the standard stream and some partnership calls, but may not use the award in their home country.

Lakehead also offers a special GRA program through the CALAREO Consortium, for opportunities in Latin America. 

Applications are submitted through the Office of Research Services; contact Jill Sherman, intl.research@lakeheadu.ca.

 3.  Mitacs GRA Thematic Call 2025 (general - undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows; partner agencies may have their own (narrower) eligibility requirements/restrictions).  Thematic calls are like standard GRA awards, however they are with specific partner institutions who may have their own criteria regarding student level, citizenship, eligible disciplines, etc.  There are no limits to the number of applications, and no co-pay required from Lakehead.  Partners in Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, and the UK are participating.  Mitacs provides assistance with finding host institutions for project ideas.  Applications are reviewed by both Mitacs and the partner agency.  Results of the competition are expected in March 2025, and successful applicants have one year from the date of approval to start their project. The call for applications is NOW OPEN. 

Deadline:  November 20th, 2024 for projects starting in 2025 (May at the earliest)

Themes: 

1) Digital and Emerging technology (e.g. AI, Advanced Computing, Cybersecurity, Semiconductors)
2) Sustainability and Net Zero (e.g. Electric Vehicles, Critical Minerals, Hydrogen, Energy Transition, Oceans, Clean Technology)
3) Life Sciences (e.g. Biomanufacturing, Bioeconomy, Agri-Food, Agri-Tech, Health Sciences)
4) Humanities and Social Innovation (open category)

Participating international partners:

Eligible Countries (may be limited to specific institutions):  Please see the Mitacs website for more details. 

• Australia - UG, Grad, PDF; bi-directional; 7 eligible institutions in Australia.
• Brazil - Grad and PDF; bi-directional; 16 eligible public universities in the state of Paraná
• Chile - UG, Grad, PDF; bi-directional; five eligible institutions
• France - Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) - PhD and PDF only; bi-directional; All labs identified as UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche)  as well as UPR (Unité Propose de Recherche)
• France - French Embassy in Canada:  Outbound (to France) only; UG, Grad, PDF; all universities in France
• France - INRIA - inbound PhD only; outbound Grad only; bi-directional; nine INRIA Centres; 16 week minimum and alternative funding scheme
• France - INSERM - PhD/PDF only; bi-directional; Life science theme only
• France - Université de Lorraine - Grad and PDF only; bi-directional; authorization from U de Lorraine required prior to submission
• Germany - Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ Helmholz Association) -  PhD/PDF only; bi-directional; 10 eligible institutions; own priority themes
• Germany - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - PhD/PDF only; bi-directional; All KIT departments/divisions
• Korea - Grad and PDF only, TO KOREA only; all universities in Korea. Canadian Citizens/PR only.
• South Africa - PhD and PDF only; bi-directional; check list of more than 50 eligible institutions 
• Taiwan - Grad and PDF only; all universities in Taiwan; bi-directional; citizenship requirements
• UK - PhD students only; all universities in the UK; bi-directional; review priority themes. 

Below are the recommended steps:

1.  Student(s) along with their home and host supervisors collaboratively develop the application and proposal through the Mitacs GRA Application Portal.  Each must register on the portal (we recommend the Lakehead Supervisor start the application).  

• Include the Mitacs Advisor for Lakehead (Drop-down box, Ontario, Wilson Luo)
• Please include the International Research Facilitator (intl.research@lakeheadu.ca)

2.  Download the complete application and submit to Jill Sherman, Office of Research Services (intl.research@lakeheadu.ca), along with a completed RPAF, for review and signature.  The internal deadline is 2 weeks before the external deadline.

3.  Once approved and signed, the application will be returned to the student and applicants for uploading and submission on the Mitacs portal.

4.  CALAREO International Research Mobility Experience  (undergraduates only) - ON PAUSE

In coordination with CALAREO´s partners in Mexico and Colombia, the Canada and Latin America Research & Exchange Opportunities (CALAREO) Consortium is offering a program of undergraduate research internships in Latin America, co-funded funded by The Government of Canada´s Global Skills Opportunity Program and Mitacs.  Researchers at partner institutions offer internships, for which students can apply.  Students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Students approved for co-op can use these internships for an international co-op.  To view available internships and learn how to apply, go to the CALAREO website for more information. 

5.  Mitacs-DAAD RISE-Globalink Research Internships in Germany  (undergraduates only)  *** NOW OPEN!  

Application Period:  October 15 -  November 30, 2024 for Summer 2025  

In collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Mitacs supports summer research internships for undergraduate students at universities across Germany.  Students from Canada and other countries in STEM-related programs compete for over 500 internships on offer. The selection process is competitive, with the call for applications held each Fall (late October-December) for the following summer.  Internships are ideally conducted the summer before the student’s final year; students who graduate before completion of the internship will not be eligible.  (Recent graduates may be eligible for the RISE Professional program for graduate students).

Canadian students are funded by Mitacs (not directly from DAAD) and will receive a CAD 6,000 award.

WEBINAR:  Wednesday, October 23, 10:30am ET       https://www.daad.de/rise/en/rise-germany/

For more information and assistance, contact: Jill Sherman, intl.research@lakeheadu.ca.

6.  Mitacs Business Strategy Internships (BSI)  (undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows)

BSI internships are to work with companies on innovation projects, under the supervision of a Lakehead professor and a company supervisor.  Awards to students are for $10,000 for four-month blocks or the equivalent (part-time projects will be extended to 6 months); multiple blocks are permitted.  Internships may be conducted on a full-time (4 months, 40 hours per week) or on a part-time basis (6 months), and part-time students are permitted to participate.  All disciplines are eligible.  For more information, contact: iped@lakeheadu.ca