Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Inclusive innovation is key to Canada’s economic prosperity

Discover our Inclusive Innovation Action Plan

Our Inclusive Innovation Action Plan (IIAP) aims to address innovation gaps faced by all equity-deserving communities, with an emphasis on five priority groups:

· Indigenous Peoples
· Women and gender-diverse individuals
· Racialized groups
· Persons living with disabilities
· LGBTQ2S+ communities

Learn more about our measurable goals for 2023-2026.

This comprehensive Action Plan is available for download in PDF format.
File size (5.5 MB).

Download the IIAP
Inclusive Innovation Action Plan (IIAP)
Innovation begins with ideas — and great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime.

“One of our key commitments with the Strategic Plan 2021 was to advance EDI and reconciliation in all our actions and decisions to build a shared, equitable future, but the complex structures of our ecosystem required a coordinated approach to foster systemic change. With IIAP, we’re bringing concrete steps to propel Mitacs and our partners forward in our journey towards inclusive innovation.”

John Hepburn, Chief Executive Officer

“The inaugural IIAP gives Mitacs a roadmap to address inequities and remove barriers for Indigenous peoples and other equity-deserving members of our community. It brings a systemic approach to our commitment to inclusive innovation, with clear accountability measures and timelines. I’m confident that this initiative will help Mitacs ensure that research and innovation can be done for the good of everyone, by everyone.”

Angelin Soosaipillai, Vice-President, EDI 

 

“Our government knows that a diverse, inclusive, and equitable research community better fosters scientific discoveries. The Mitacs’s Inclusive Innovation Action Plan will greatly benefit our research ecosystems by creating an​​ equitable research community where everyone can participate.”

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

 

The IIAP strives to empower the social, cultural, and economic well-being of Indigenous Peoples and all individuals in Canada, through three core streams.

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1: Equitable systems

Focuses on Indigenization and incorporating EDI principles across Mitacs’s internal systems, policies, and practices

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2: Access and support

Addresses gaps and inequities in Mitacs’s external programming to increase access and opportunities to diverse research talent

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3: Networks and partners

Integrates Mitacs’s reconciliation and EDI efforts across our network to build an inclusive innovation ecosystem

Mitacs is honoured to have collaborated with Design de Plume to design the IIAP report. Design de Plume is a women-led, Indigenous-owned design agency with accessibility expertise, and our partnership ensures an inclusive and accessible design to our action plan. 

Read the Inclusive Innovation Action Plan
Methodology and Timeline

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November 2021

Partnered with Canadian Equality Consulting for the EDI audit/assessment

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July 2022

Mapped out Mitacs interns demographic representation with the launch of the National EDI Survey

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August 2022

Conducted an environmental scan to identify EDI and Indigenization trends and best practices

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November 2022

Partnered with Diversio to launch an Internal Survey to collect demographic data and inclusion experiences of all staff

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January 2023

Internal consultations with 48 individuals across Mitacs

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May 2023

Consultation with Full Partner Advisory Committee (FPAC) members to collect insights from post-secondary institutions

Let’s build a shared, equitable future for all

 

No matter the size of your organization or scope of your research, we support you from coast to coast to coast.

Discover Indigenous Pathways

Like companies everywhere, Indigenous-owned businesses and organizations need to innovate in order to grow and achieve their strategic goals. Through our Indigenous Pathways initiative, we help those business and organization find top talent and we co-invest in collaborative R&D projects.

Learn more
Indigenous Pathways with Mitacs

Let’s go on a journey together.

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