Mitacs Accelerate
Subsidized R&D interns — $15K–$30K per internship, half paid by Mitacs
Overview
$15,000 per research internship — Mitacs pays half, you pay half
Mitacs Accelerate connects your company with graduate students and postdocs who work on your R&D projects. Mitacs covers $15,000 of the internship cost per 4-month term — you match it. Total intern compensation: $30,000 per term.
This isn't free labor — it's subsidized research talent. The intern works on a defined research project under supervision of both a university professor and your team. Projects must have genuine research questions.
The program is powerful for companies that need specialized research capacity but can't justify a full-time hire. One intern for one term can produce publishable-quality R&D that also feeds your SR&ED claim.
Who Qualifies
Hard Gates — Must Have
Canadian company
Must be registered and operating in Canada
University partner
Must partner with a Canadian university and supervising professor
Research project
Project must have genuine research questions (not routine development)
Soft Gates — Nice to Have
STEM focus
Science, technology, engineering, or math projects prioritized
Multiple terms
Multi-term internships get smoother renewals
How Much
Range
$15K – $30K per intern per term
Rate
50% cost-shared per 4-month term
Example Recovery
$30K from Mitacs (50% of $60K total)
Mitacs contributes $15K per intern per 4-month term. Company matches $15K. Total intern compensation: $30K per term. Multiple terms and multiple interns can be stacked.
Worked Example
Your spend
$30K total (2 interns × 1 term)
You recover
$30K from Mitacs (50% of $60K total)
Note
Company pays $30K, Mitacs pays $30K
Application Process
Find a university partner
Connect with a professor whose research aligns with your project.
Define the project
Write a research proposal with the professor and identify intern candidates.
Submit application
Apply through Mitacs portal with research plan, budget, and professor endorsement.
Review and matching
Mitacs reviews, approves, and matches intern to project.
Internship begins
Intern works on-site or remotely on the research project.
Common Mistakes
Treating interns as free developers
Mitacs interns work on research, not production code. Using them for routine development violates program terms and risks clawback.
Skipping the professor
University supervision is mandatory. No professor = no Mitacs. Find a faculty member whose research interests align with your project.
Not stacking with SR&ED
Mitacs intern work often qualifies for SR&ED claims. The salary you pay (your $15K match) is eligible R&D expenditure.
Key Deadlines
Intake
Rolling
Applications accepted year-round. Allow 8-12 weeks from application to internship start.
Academic terms
Sep, Jan, May
Align internships with university terms for best intern availability.
Related Programs
Check if you qualify for Mitacs Accelerate
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