Mitacs Accelerate — $15K Industry-Academic Research Internship (Graduate + Postdoctoral)

What you will need

• ✓ Academic supervisor willing to participate as project lead
• ✓ Industry or not-for-profit partner organization committed to co-funding + co-defining the research project
• ✓ Project proposal aligned with Mitacs's research-based-internship criteria
• ✓ Mitacs Business Development representative engagement to coordinate stream + matching
• ✓ Enrolment in (or scheduled enrolment for) a graduate program OR postdoctoral position at a Canadian academic institution recognized by Mitacs
• ✓ Partner organization's commitment letter detailing project scope + matching contribution

About this award

Mitacs Accelerate is the flagship Mitacs program: a research-based internship that partners graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations to work on real research projects with industry impact. Each Accelerate internship pays $15,000 CAD per four- or six-month engagement, with the intern working under their academic supervisor while collaborating with a partner organization on a research challenge of mutual interest. The funding is leveraged — the partner organization contributes a matching cash amount, and Mitacs adds the rest, so the intern gets a substantial stipend and the partner gets cost-shared access to deep academic expertise. Accelerate operates rolling intake throughout the year, so the application timing is driven by your project start date rather than an annual deadline. As of March 31, 2025, the standalone Mitacs Elevate program (the prior dedicated postdoctoral fellowship) was retired and rolled into Accelerate's postdoctoral funding model — so Accelerate now serves both graduate students and postdoctoral fellows under one program umbrella. Internships scale: starting at four or six months, with the option to extend through additional concurrent or sequential awards across a multi-year project.

Who qualifies

You qualify for Mitacs Accelerate if you (1) are a graduate student (master's or doctoral) or postdoctoral fellow at a Canadian academic institution recognized by Mitacs; (2) have an academic supervisor willing to participate; (3) can secure a for-profit or not-for-profit partner organization willing to co-define and co-fund a research project relevant to their needs; (4) the proposed project meets Mitacs's research-based-internship criteria. Citizenship is open — both Canadian citizens and international students enrolled at a Canadian institution may apply, gated by enrolment status not nationality. The partner organization must be Canadian-incorporated for most funding streams. Specific eligibility nuances vary by sector (Mitacs has dedicated streams for AI, cleantech, cybersecurity, health and life sciences, IT, and quantum) — consult a Mitacs Business Development representative to identify the right stream for your project.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's own page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

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