Mitacs Accelerate

Mitacs Accelerate connects academic talent to industry by supporting the cost of a collaborative research internship. During a Mitacs Accelerate project, one or more interns tackle a real-world project under the joint supervision of an academic supervisor and partner organization. The partner organization contributes only 50% of the cost, making it affordable for them to harness top academic talent at a competitive stipend.

Applications are accepted throughout the year on a non-competitive basis.

Learn More About Accelerate

How it Works

1. The Match

A partner organization and academic researchers develop a research project

2. The Proposal

Applicants submit their completed proposal via a Mitacs representative

3. The Project

For approved projects, partner funds are combined with government funding to provide an intern stipend.

Project Structure

An intern spends a minimum of 4 or 6 months — or one unit— on a research and development project.

The intern spends their time with the partner organization working directly with employees of the partner either in-person, hybrid, or remotely (depending on partner needs).

Each unit can have a total stipend value of $10 000 or $15 000 (please note: $20 000 units are available for Post-Doctoral Fellows). Mitacs covers the unit's value with a 50% contribution provided by the partner organization. For the $15 000 unit value, up to $5000 can be used for eligible project support expenses. Additional funding is also available for projects with significant eligible travel expenditures.

Mitacs projects are modular, and can be modified to fit different budgets, timelines, and scales. Ask your Mitacs advisor about how you can scale up projects to gain access to more funding with larger projects.

Eligibility

Interns

Full time Undergraduate and Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Recent Graduates (within two years of graduation) from the University of Lethbridge
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students over the age of 18
- Part time students may be eligible. Contact your local representative to learn more.
All academic disciplines

Supervisor

All academic disciplines
Faculty/supervisors must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funds

Partner Organization

For-profit corporations, eligible not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, and hospitals in Canada
All sectors are eligible
For-profit businesses operating outside of Canada may also be eligible; reach out to the ULethbridge Mitacs Representative to learn more

Click here for more information on eligibility criteria.

Special Calls

Accelerate Defence & Security

Competitive call open from June 1st - August 17th, 2026
- Internal UofL deadline: Aug. 10th, 2026
- Adjudication Results: Nov. 2026
Strategic relevance to Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) priority areas:
- Aerospace
- Digital Systems (AI, Quantum, Cyber)
- In-Service Support; Personnel Protection
- Sensors
- Space
- Specialized Manufacturing
- Training & Simulation
- Uncrewed Systems
- Quantum Science and Technology
- Arctic Sovereignty
Higher Award Values:
- Master's or PhD internship unit: $20,000 ($10,000+tax contribution from partner; minimum $15k for stipend)
- Postdoctoral fellowship internship unit: $25,000 ($12,500+tax contribution from partner; minimum $20k for stipend)
Learn More here: Mitacs Accelerate Defence and Security Call - Mitacs

Global Excellence Award

60 competitive awards available for 2026–27.
Each two-year fellowship is valued at $170,000, including:
- $85,000 per year, with $42,500 contributed annually by the partner organization.
- At least $70,000 per year allocated to the researcher’s stipend.
- Up to $15,000 annually for research and relocation costs.
Eligibility Criteria
- *NEW* PDF can be TBD at the time of submission
- Applicants must be within five years of PhD completion.
- Must currently reside outside Canada (including Canadians trained abroad).
- Must be willing to relocate to Canada for the fellowship.
- Host organizations may include companies, non-profits, hospitals, and municipalities.
Important Dates:
Application window: May 2 to September 11, 2026.
- Results announced: Early 2027.
This award aligns with the Government of Canada’s national talent strategy and advances commercialization of cutting-edge technologies through strong partnerships between researchers and industry