Mitacs is a Canadian not-for-profit that specializes in designing and delivering research and training programs in partnership with various Canadian universities, companies, and the federal and provincial governments. The organization uses its nation-wide network to connect businesses and not-for-profit organizations with post-secondary talent, equipment, and expertise to develop innovative solutions. Due to the recent novel coronavirus, Mitacs has announced changes to their funding, and is also fast-tracking COVID-19 project approval timelines.
Mitacs has announced they will be offering a 3-to-1 investment ratio for COVID-19-related projects.
What this means is that if you invest $3,750 in R&D wages paid to a post-secondary researcher towards an eligible project, they will match it with $11,250 for a project total of $15,000. This grant can be stacked with other COVID-19-related project funding.
How Mitacs COVID-19 Funding Works
Mitacs works on a project-by-project basis where applicants are matched with an academic researcher to develop an R&D project with the potential for a large impact in responding to the novel coronavirus. This project is then submitted as a proposal, which is accepted or rejected by Mitacs’ COVID-19 funding stream.
“We will continue to focus on our core operations and established programs, while pivoting to combat COVID-19. Mitacs is committed to supporting partners to develop innovative solutions for Canada—and the world.”
– John Hepburn, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs
Both for-profit and not-for-profit corporations in all sectors of Canada may be eligible for funding. Proposals can be submitted any time up to May 15, 2020.
Mitacs Post-Secondary Internships
For a limited time, SMEs who are helping respond to COVID-19 can incorporate an accelerated internship, if it is related to academic research, with a reduced contribution of $3,750 in wages paid with a $15,000 award. This grant may be stacked with NSERC’s $15M in COVID-19 grants.
Students can be added to the development portion of COVID-19 Mitacs projects and may support development with activities such as prototyping, coding, managing data, monitoring cell cultures, and creating visual presentations of modelling.
Get to know the latest Canadian government funding programs available to your business by registering for an upcoming COVID-19 support for Canadian businesses webinar.