Mitacs Program Update – Accelerate Internship Units 2025/26
Due to the current federal funding landscape, institutions based in Alberta and in Ontario will continue to operate based on an allocation model for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Carleton University’s allocation for 2025/2026 is based on Carleton’s average usage of the Accelerate and Elevate programs over the past three years and it will impact any applications under the Accelerate program, including joint Mitacs applications with the Tri-Council Agencies. Allocation of available internship units will be completed on a continuous basis for fully submitted projects until all units have been allocated.
Accelerate program updates: Please also note that due to recent program changes, the Mitacs Accelerate International and Mitacs Elevate programs have also been discontinued and will now be rolled into the Accelerate program as of April 1, 2025. This year, such applications will be included in Carleton University’s Accelerate funding allocation.
Eligibility requirements:
- Standard Mitacs eligibility rules will continue to apply
- Mitacs will require a minimum of 50% of interns to be named on the proposal
Mitacs Programs which are not impacted by these restrictions include:
- Business Strategy Internships (BSI),
- Globalink Research Award (GRA)
Accelerate Projects which are not impacted by these restrictions include:
- Accelerate projects in quantum research (see definition below)
- Indigenous Pathways program (see definition below)
Next Steps
Mitacs has committed to work with the University to ensure that applications submitted do not exceed the University’s allowance. All proposals must be sent to Ana Boika for proposal development and coordination of signatures as part of the Mitacs proposal development and submission process.
If you have any questions regarding the change in funding, please contact Ana Boika (aboika@mitacs.ca), or refer to the How To Apply section on Accelerate on Mitacs’s website: Mitacs Accelerate Program.
Mitacs and the OVPRI are both on hand to provide support to researchers as we move forward during this period. Thank you for your understanding.
Quantum Project Eligibility
“Quantum” projects refer to those in the ‘quantum’ field of science and technology which seek to predict and explain the behaviour of atoms and molecules and involve the manipulation and control of systems at the atomic and subatomic levels. Quantum science and technology projects broadly refer to projects that aim to study one or more of the following:
- Quantum computers – a type of computer that exploits the behaviour of microscopic elements of the size of atoms to perform calculations;
- Quantum software – software and algorithms that run on quantum computers, and enable the operation and design of quantum computers and/or development and optimization of quantum applications;
- Quantum communications – networks that utilize the laws of physics to protect and share data;
- Quantum sensors – devices that use quantum science to perform measurements with high sensitivity and accuracy; and
- Quantum materials – materials with unusual magnetic and electrical properties resulting from quantum effects.
Indigenous Pathways Eligibility
In order to be eligible to the Indigenous Pathways offering, one of the following requirements must be met:
- The partner organization must be a for-profit organization with self-identifying Indigenous persons (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) who hold 50% or greater ownership shares
- The partner organization must be a not-for-profit organization with board membership consisting of 50% or greater self-identifying Indigenous Persons (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit)
- The student assigned to the project must be a self-identifying Indigenous person (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit)