Mitacs

What Mitacs does

Mitacs Inc. is a Canadian not-for-profit organization founded in 1999 (some corporate sources state 2000) and headquartered in Ottawa, operating as the country's national innovation connector between industry and academia. Its core function is to co-fund research-based internships and fellowships that place undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows from 200+ Canadian universities, colleges, and polytechnics into 12,500+ partner organizations to solve applied research challenges. Its served sectors span advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cleantech, cybersecurity, health and life sciences, information and communication technologies, and quantum.

Mitacs's product portfolio includes the flagship Accelerate program, Accelerate Entrepreneur (startup-focused), Business Strategy Internship (BSI), Globalink Research Award and Globalink Research Internship (international two-way mobility), RISE-Globalink (German exchange via DAAD), Accelerate Global Excellence Award, Professional Development Training, and the Mitacs Plus self-serve digital application portal. The platform does not embed proprietary AI or ML technology; rather, it acts as workflow and funding infrastructure for human-mediated research collaboration.

Mitacs's business model is a co-funding mechanism layered on multi-government appropriations. Partner organizations contribute $5,000 (undergraduate), $10,000 (Master's/PhD), or $12,500 (postdoctoral) per internship unit, which Mitacs matches, with total unit values of $7,500, $15,000, and $20,000 respectively; the new Defence and Security Call prices Master's/PhD units at $20,000 and postdoctoral units at $25,000 with up to 30 units per project. Primary funding comes from the Government of Canada and all 13 provincial/territorial governments. Since April 2018 Mitacs has invested over $1.68B in R&D, supporting 42,000+ innovation projects and 118,000+ internships, including 4,800+ AI-specific interns and $27M+ in quantum/advanced computing funding since 2022.

Name

Mitacs

Legal name

Mitacs Inc.

Website

https://mitacs.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mitacs is a Canadian not-for-profit national innovation connector that co-funds research internships between 12,500+ partner organizations and 200+ post-secondary institutions, deploying undergraduate to postdoctoral talent across AI, quantum, cleantech, life sciences, and manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Collaboration and Innovation Funding Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops (EDALABAG), University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements (EDAIAFAB), Corporate & Employer-Sponsored Scholarships (EDAIAOAI), Government/IGO/NGO & Public Sector International Internships (EDAIAFAG)

Keywords

• Research internship programs
• Industry-academic collaboration
• Postdoctoral fellowships
• Innovation funding programs
• Academic research partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada and provincial governments (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon). This constitutes the primary funding source for operations and internship co-funding.
2. Partner Organization Contributions: Partner organizations (businesses, not-for-profits, hospitals, municipalities) co-fund research internships by contributing financially to projects. Partner contributions are matched by Mitacs funding. For Accelerate program, partner contribution is typically $10,000 per internship unit for Master's/PhD students and $5,000 for undergraduate students, with postdoctoral fellowships at $12,500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mitacs designs and delivers co-funded research internship and fellowship programs that connect Canadian businesses, not-for-profits, hospitals, and municipalities with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and academic researchers from 200+ post-secondary institutions. Its flagship Accelerate program funds 4- to 6-month applied research internships at $15,000 per unit for graduate students and $20,000 per unit for postdoctoral fellows, with partners contributing a defined share and Mitacs covering the remainder through federal/provincial funding. Supporting offerings include Accelerate Entrepreneur (startup support), Business Strategy Internship, Globalink international mobility programs, the Accelerate Defence and Security Call, and the Mitacs Plus self-serve digital platform for applications and project management.

Product overview

Mitacs is a Canadian nonprofit that serves as a national innovation connector, offering a portfolio of programs that facilitate industry-academic collaboration through research internships and fellowships. The core offering includes the Accelerate program (research internships), Accelerate Entrepreneur (startup support), Business Strategy Internship (business-focused projects), and Globalink programs (international research mobility). The Mitacs Plus platform provides a self-serve digital portal for application submission and project management. Additional offerings include Professional Development Training, RISE-Globalink (German exchange), and specialized funding calls such as the Accelerate Defence and Security Call. The Elevate postdoctoral fellowship program has been closed, with functionality consolidated into the Accelerate program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mitacs Accelerate: Flagship program providing research-based internships that foster applied research collaboration between post-secondary students/postdoctoral fellows, industry, and academic researchers.
• Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur
• Business Strategy Internship (BSI)
• Globalink Research Award
• Globalink Research Internship
• Mitacs Globalink
• Mitacs Plus
• RISE-Globalink Research Internship
• Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security Call
• Mitacs Professional Development Training

Products and services

• Mitacs Accelerate Flagship co-funded research internship program that fosters applied research collaboration and knowledge transfer between post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows, industry partners, and academic researchers. Standard graduate internship unit priced at $15,000 ($10,000 partner contribution); postdoctoral at $20,000 ($12,500 partner contribution); undergraduate at $7,500 ($5,000 partner contribution). Used by businesses, not-for-profits, hospitals, and municipalities to access specialized research talent.
• Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Flexible initiative helping college, undergraduate, graduate students, and postdoctoral entrepreneurs grow their startup, develop the research or technology at its core, and get to market faster through Mitacs-funded internships.
• Business Strategy Internship (BSI) Program supporting innovation-driven business projects that helps organizations enhance their business strategy while providing graduate interns with hands-on experiential learning. Used by enterprises such as AltaML (132 internship units targeted over two years) and Perimeter Medical Imaging AI ($100,000 BSI award for AI breast cancer surgery project).
• Globalink Research Award International research collaboration program enabling two-way mobility between Canada and eligible partner countries, strengthening research networks and equipping interns with cross-cultural experience under joint faculty supervision.
• Globalink Research Internship 12-week international undergraduate research program bringing students from Mitacs-eligible partner countries to Canadian universities for research work-integrated learning. Includes 300 senior undergraduate students from India annually via the AICTE MOU (first cohort summer 2027).
• RISE-Globalink Research Internship Competitive program enabling undergraduate students at Canadian universities to collaborate with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for academic mobility to German universities and institutions.
• Mitacs Plus Self-serve application portal that enables applicants and partners to submit and manage Mitacs Accelerate projects, access program funding, collaborate with partners, and track application status in real time through the application lifecycle.
• Accelerate Global Excellence Award Funding program covering salary, research costs, and relocation expenses of international PhD or Canadian students studying abroad who would relocate to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship in Canada.
• Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security Call Specialized funding call through Mitacs Accelerate program supporting industrial innovation partnerships that advance Canadian sovereign defence capabilities. Master's/PhD internship $20,000 ($10,000 partner contribution, minimum $15,000 stipend); postdoctoral $25,000 ($12,500 partner contribution, minimum $20,000 stipend). Up to 30 internship units per project. Applications open June 1 to August 17, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies partnering with Mitacs see average 11% boost in productivity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hydro-QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Industry partner in Joint Research Unit in Materials and Technologies for Energy Transition with INRS and UQTR. $2.88 million investment for battery research across full energy chain. Supports Canada's energy sovereignty goals.
• Arkema Canada Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Industry partner supporting Joint Research Unit in Materials and Technologies for Energy Transition for battery research.
• PINQ² (Plateforme d'innovation numérique et quantique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026New MOU to advance Canada's quantum innovation ecosystem through research partnerships, talent development, and commercialization pathways. Collaboration spans quantum and hybrid computing, thought leadership, and ecosystem development. Mitacs has supported over $27 million in quantum/advanced computing funding since 2022 with 150+ industry partners.
• Medventions (Sunnybrook Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Launched Medventions Mitacs Umbrella agreement to support medtech entrepreneurship fellowships across Canada (Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador) over two years. Will support 39 internships equipping medtech entrepreneurs with hands-on clinical experience. Formalizes partnership that began in 2021.
• Helmholtz AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Letter of Intent signed at Helmholtz headquarters in Berlin to expand collaboration through Mitacs Globalink Research Award. Creates opportunities for senior undergraduate, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers for bilateral research projects under joint Canadian-German faculty supervision across 18 Helmholtz research centers.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Letter of Intent signed at Fraunhofer headquarters in Munich to establish formal pathways for collaboration through Mitacs Globalink programming and Fraunhofer's International Mobility Program. Marks 75 years of Canada-Germany diplomatic relations and 55 years of formal science cooperation.
• Life Sciences OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026MOU to collaborate on strategic initiatives advancing shared priorities in research, talent development, policy leadership, and ecosystem development in Ontario's life sciences sector. Includes joint initiatives, thought leadership, events, and network alignment.
• ANUIES and Tecnológico Nacional de México (TecNM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026MOU to strengthen collaboration in aerospace research, training, innovation, and commercialization between Canada and Mexico. Establishes framework for joint training, talent mobility, and industry-academic collaboration. Mitacs has supported over 600 bilateral activities between Canada and Mexico.
• Innovate BCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026New initiative to support high-potential scaling companies across British Columbia with IP capacity and commercialization readiness. Builds on longstanding collaboration since 2018 supporting talent development through Accelerate and Business Strategy Internships.
• AltaMLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Business Strategy Internship umbrella agreement to advance AI innovation and highly qualified personnel development. Targets 132 internship units over two years with cohorts of 15-20 interns per term. Since 2018, AltaML has hosted over 160 Mitacs interns across 240+ internships and 85+ projects.
• Boehringer Ingelheim CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Industry partner providing funding for Canada's first Veterinary Parasitology Residency Program at Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI, addressing heartworm disease emerging in Atlantic Canada. Mitacs contributed matching funds.
• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026MOU to support 300 highly qualified senior undergraduate students from India to travel to Canada each year through Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Program. First cohort expected in Canada in summer 2027. Builds on existing collaboration dating back to 2009.
• Qubo ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Partnership to launch six bilingual quantum workshops in Canada developing workforce skills in quantum technologies. Workshops cover quantum sensing, computing, communication, and quantum space race, targeting students and professionals.
• France Canada Research Fund (FCRF)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2025FCRF, created in 2000 through agreement between French Embassy and 23 Canadian universities, has financed over 400 collaborative projects. MITACS contributes $6,000 Globalink Research Award to each laureate. Currently supports about 20 new projects annually.
• Fields InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Fields-Mitacs Summer Research Program launched in mathematics enabling Canadian researchers to partner with elite talent from India's top academic institutions. First cohort of students came to Canada in 2026.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): Germany's national agency for international academic mobility, operating RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) — a direct counterpart to Mitacs Globalink Research Internship. Mitacs and DAAD already partner through the RISE-Globalink program.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency funding business-led R&D and connecting companies to research talent. Innovate UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Innovation Vouchers are structurally similar to Mitacs Accelerate and Business Strategy Internship.
• NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada): Canadian federal granting agency that funds university-based research and student training. NSERC's Discovery Grants, CREATE, and Alliance programs overlap with Mitacs's industry-academic research funding mandate, though NSERC is grant-based while Mitacs is internship-based.

Broad incumbents

• UKRI (UK Research and Innovation): Umbrella body for UK research councils that funds both fundamental and applied research and talent mobility programs. UKRI's remit (training, mobility, industry partnerships) is structurally analogous to Mitacs's national connector role.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's largest applied research organization, operating 76 institutes that perform contract R&D for industry — comparable to Mitacs's applied research commercialization role but at vastly greater scale and with in-house research staff.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency that connects industry with research capability, runs postgraduate and industry internship programs, and deploys funding across emerging sectors — analogous to Mitacs's intermediary-plus-funding model.
• NSF (National Science Foundation) — REU Program: U.S. federal agency whose Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is the closest U.S. analog to Mitacs Accelerate. NSF also funds industry-academic collaboration through GOALI and I-Corps.
• Helmholtz Association: Germany's largest research organization running 18 research centers. Helmholtz and Mitacs signed an LOI to expand Globalink Research Award collaboration — both operate as connectors between research talent and applied innovation outcomes.

Emerging players

• Concierge: Tech-enabled talent matching platform that connects enterprises with academic researchers and short-term project talent — overlapping with Mitacs Plus as a digital intermediary for industry-academic engagement.
• Fulbright Program: International academic exchange program operating in 160+ countries, comparable to Mitacs Globalink's two-way research mobility between Canada and partner countries (India, Germany, France, Mexico).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mitacscanada
• Facebookfacebook.com/mitacs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mitacs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments34 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mitacs