Mitacs Innovation Awards
Each year, Mitacs recognizes extraordinary talent from across the country whose groundbreaking discoveries drive innovation and propel economic prosperity in sectors such as health and life sciences, agritech, and energy.
The Innovation Awards highlight eight exceptional innovators, from students to enterprise partners, whose impactful work is made possible through partnerships with Mitacs.
Mitacs has supported Canadian innovation through funding and mentorship for more than 25 years, connecting businesses with top-tier research talent. Mitacs supports the transition from research to product development, while building pathways to careers in innovation for Canada’s exceptional talent.
Visit the Mitacs Innovation Awards website for more information.
This program is currently closed. The details below reflect the previous call and are for general information purposes only. Updates will be posted as soon as the next round is announced.
Nomination Categories
Nominations for the Mitacs Innovation Awards are now open for the following categories:
- Outstanding Innovation: Recognizes extraordinary talent from across Canada among students and post-doctoral fellows who have participated in a Mitacs program (four recipients); this category emphasizes the societal and economic impacts of research, as well as the potential to drive innovation and address challenges.
- Inclusive Innovator of the Year: Recognizes the achievements of equity-deserving groups in developing and/or fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem by promoting social inclusion, incorporating diverse perspectives and prioritizing accessibility in the design and execution of innovative projects, products and services.
- Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year: Recognizes an outstanding Canadian innovator who has used Mitacs support to kick-start their entrepreneurial journey; this award highlights the successful commercialization of research and/or the creation of a new business enterprise.
- Canadian Enterprise Innovator of the Year: Recognizes a Mitacs industry partner whose leadership, adoption of burgeoning technology and support of innovative research and development demonstrate an ongoing commitment to developing talent and boosting Canada’s productivity and economic growth.
- Outstanding Research Leadership: Presented to a post-secondary supervisor with an exemplary record of developing collaborations with business partners; the winner of this category provides valuable research and training experience to Mitacs interns and implements funding towards impactful projects.
Deadlines
Nomination period: August 19 to September 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The awards ceremony will take place on November 18, 2025. All winners will be invited to join at the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa.
How to Nominate
All awards are open to peer and self-nomination with letters of support from academic supervisors required for intern and student self-nomination.
Visit the Mitacs website to submit a nomination.
