Organization: Mitacs

Mitacs expands innovation-focused internships to colleges, polytechnics

On April 29 the federal government announced a new pilot program that will give colleges and polytechnics opportunities for their students to participate in hands-on learning placements in industry or not-for-profit organizations that particularly focus on innovation. The program will expand Mitacs’ research internship that is being federally funded for over five years up to…

Excerpts: Research ecosystem reacts to Budget 2018

The whole ecosystem is patting themselves on the back, confident that their concerted efforts to lobby behind the Naylor report recommendations — foremost of which was an increase in budget – did not fall on deaf ears. RE$EARCH MONEY offers excerpts of what the ecosystem has to say about the federal budget.

New bioeconomy framework outlines measures to enhance and expand Canadian expertise, competitiveness

Canada’s forest ministers have produced A Forest Bioeconomy Framework for Canada to leverage the country’s vast biomass reserves and extend their production and deployment far beyond current usage. The report was released in September and unanimously endorsed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM), which co-authored the document along with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

Feds roll out new student-placement workforce program

The Department of Workforce Development and Labour has launched a $73-million, four-year Student Work-Integrated Learning Program (SWILP) that will create 10,000 paid workforce placements for post-secondary students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and business. The new program complements the work of Mitacs, which received $221 million over five years in the last Budget…

Daring to innovate: Quebec launches five-year strategy for research and innovation

Quebec has come a long way in strengthening its knowledge capacity since the early days of the Quiet Revolution. The notion of investing in S&T for its economic, social and cultural development has always been central to its policy platforms irrespective of political party. The May 11 release of the 126-page Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy (SQRI) by Quebec premier Philippe Couillard signals a major shift by the province to aim much higher and up the province’s innovation game.

Mitacs to realize goal of placing 10,000 internships throughout industry, not-for-profit sector and government

Mitacs’ long-term goal of supporting 10,000 internships annually has become a reality with a $211-million investment from the federal government. Announced in the recent federal Budget, the five-year funding commitment beings this FY at $12 million and ramps up to $80 million by FY21-22, providing an unprecedented infusion of post-secondary talent into industry and the not-for-profit sector.

Mitacs and CIIRDF fund research internships

Mitacs is partnering with the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (CIIRDF) to help up to 20 graduates participate in industrial research exchanges between the two nations. The agreement was signed earlier this month during a Middle East visit by governor general David Johnston. Researchers will participate in 16-24 week internships in select disciplines such…

Canada and Mexico sign education agreements

Canada and Mexico have signed a collection of education-related agreements building on the Human Capital Working Group of the 11th Canada-Mexico Partnership meeting last November. The agreements include a deal between Mitacs and the National Council for Science and Technology that will send 20 graduate students from each country to the other to participate in…

Australian students gain access to Globalink program

Mitacs and Universities Australia have signed an agreement allowing Australian undergraduate students to participate in Mitacs’ Globalink Research Internships program for the first time. The agreement adds Australia to the program’s partner list which includes Brazil, China, France, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Vietnam. Successful students participate in a 12-week research internship and are…

Dalhousie opens big data analytics institute

Dalhousie Univ has officially launch the Institute for Big Data Analytics, Canada’s first academic research unit dedicated to expanding knowledge in the field, and partnering with industry across a range of sectors. The institute will be directed by Dr Stan Matwin, a Canada Research Chair holder in Visual Analytics. Big data analytics is a rapidly…