Mitacs
{{Short description|Canadian nonprofit national research organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| formation = 1999
| type = Non-profit
| purpose = Research and development
| formerly = Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems
| founder = Steve Halperin, Luc Vinet, Don Dawson, and Nassif Ghoussoub
| location = Canada
| website = https://www.mitacs.ca
}}
Mitacs is a nonprofit national research organization that, in partnerships with Canadian academia, private industry and government, operates research and training programs in fields related to industrial and social innovation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mitacs.ca/en/about|title=About Mitacs|website=mitacs.ca|date=13 April 2014 |access-date=2019-02-17}}{{cite news|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2013/01/building-knowledge-economy-through-partnerships.html|title=Building the Knowledge Economy Through Partnerships|date=2013-01-21|work=Industry Canada}}
History
Mitacs was founded by Canadian mathematicians in 1999. The organization, whose name originally stood for "Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems", worked in the field of mathematical sciences and associated disciplines but has since expanded. In 2004, the Mitacs Accelerate program was launched{{cite news|url=http://www.universityaffairs.ca/one-plus-one-success.aspx|title=One + one = success|last=Smith|first=Michael|date=2011-02-07|work=University Affairs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913123739/http://www.universityaffairs.ca/one-plus-one-success.aspx|archive-date=2014-09-13|url-status=dead}} and has since supported over 10,000 internships nationally.{{cite news|url=http://www.corporateknights.com/channels/leadership/make-me-a-match-14579352/|title=Make me a match|last=McIlroy|first=Anne|date=2016-03-14|work=Corporate Knights}}Joe Oliver (2015-04-21).[https://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/docs/plan/budget2015-eng.pdf "Economic Action Plan 2015"]. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. {{ISSN|1719-7740}}.American Mathematical Society
Programs
As of late 2020, Mitacs operates six main programs:{{Cite web|url=https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs|title=Programs|date=11 July 2014 |publisher=Mitacs|access-date=2020-12-02}}
= Accelerate =
The organization's flagship program has supported over 10,000 research internships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows since 2004 and has since replaced the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships Program.
= Elevate =
The two-year program has the objective of providing postdoctoral fellows with professional and leadership development training with a partner organization.{{Cite web |title=Elevate Your Business with Mitacs Development Program |url=https://www.mitacs.ca/our-programs/elevate-business/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Mitacs |language=en-CA}}
= Globalink =
The international program supports two-way research collaboration between Canada and research partners abroad.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/see-the-world-but-see-canada-too/article18843111/|title=See the world. But see Canada too|last=Maioni|first=Antonia|date=2017-06-19|work=The Globe and Mail}} In 2016, the Globalink Research Internship program welcomed 565 students across Canada.{{cite news|url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1379481-nowns-halifax-researchers-team-up-with-students-to-tackle-health-care-environment/|title=Halifax researchers team up with students to tackle health care, environment projects|last=Pannacci|first=Amanda|date=2016-07-11|work=The Chronicle Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131141109/https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1379481-nowns-halifax-researchers-team-up-with-students-to-tackle-health-care-environment/|archive-date=2018-01-31}}
= Canadian Science Policy Fellowship =
The program matches PhD-level researchers to government agencies to influence evidence-based policy-making.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-scientists-with-posts-in-government-encourage-evidence-based-policy-making/article33317650/|title=New program allows scientists to get involved in federal policy-making|last=Chiose|first=Simona|date=2018-05-17|work=The Globe and Mail}}
= Entrepreneur International =
The program offers travel grants to Canadian start-ups housed in university-linked incubators. The grant enables start-ups to connect with international incubators.{{Cite web |title=Empower Your Entrepreneurial Journey with Mitacs |url=https://www.mitacs.ca/our-programs/mitacs-entrepreneur-international-students-postdocs/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Mitacs |language=en-CA}}
= Business Strategy Internship =
The program provides funding to students who develop innovative projects designed to help Canadian businesses.{{cite news|url=https://www.weeklyvoice.com/feds-invest-40m-to-create-5000-internships/|title=Feds Invest $40M To Create 5,000 Internships|date=2020-07-12|work=WeeklyVoice.com|access-date=2020-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813105830/https://www.weeklyvoice.com/feds-invest-40m-to-create-5000-internships/|archive-date=2020-08-13}}
= IBET PhD Project Partnership =
Mitacs provides IBET PhD Project Fellows with internships via its Accelerate, Globalink and Business Strategy programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mitacs.ca/news/mitacs-and-ibet-expand-partnership-and-opportunities-for-indigenous-and-black-researchers/|title = Mitacs and IBET Expand Partnership and Opportunities for Indigenous and Black Researcher|website = mitacs.caaccess-date = June 7, 2025|language=en}} The partnership helps support Indigenous and Black scholars in Canada pursuing doctoral degrees in STEM programs.{{cite web|url= https://uwaterloo.ca/engineering/indigenous-black-engineering-and-technology-ibet-phd-project |title= Supporting The Next Generation of SEM Leaders|access-date=2025-06-13}}
Awards
Mitacs presents annual awards in seven categories:{{Cite web|url=https://www.mitacs.ca/en/2020-mitacs-awards-nominations|title=Awards|publisher=Mitacs|access-date=2020-12-02}}
- Alejandro Adem Legacy Award for Outstanding Innovation — Indigenous
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — International
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — Master's
- Award for Outstanding Innovation — PhD
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — Postdoctoral
- Mitacs Award for Exceptional Leadership — Professor
- Mitacs & NRC–IRAP Award for Commercialization{{cite web |title=Award Categories |url=http://mitacs.ca/en/mitacs-awards-nominations |publisher=Mitacs |access-date=3 December 2020}}
Funding
Mitacs is jointly funded by the federal and provincial Canadian governments, academic partners and research partners.{{cite web|url=https://www.mitacs.ca/en/about/partners|title=Government Partners|date=28 August 2014 |publisher=Mitacs|access-date=2019-02-15}} Between 2006 and 2015, the organization received $128 million in investments from the federal government.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/not-headed-for-academia-industry-internships-may-be-the-answer/article9295558/|title=Not headed for academia? Industry internships may be the answer|last=Lewington|first=Jennifer|date=2018-05-11|work=The Globe and Mail}} In 2015, the federal government pledged $56.4 million over four years (starting in 2016) to Mitacs in support of graduate-level research and development internships.
References
External links
- [http://www.mitacs.ca Official website]
Category:Funding bodies of Canada
Category:Scientific organizations based in Canada