The Mitacs Entrepreneur International program invites application submissions on a year-round basis.
A Mitacs Entrepreneur International application consists of:
- A completed and signed application, including your travel budget
- A signed letter of support from an eligible Canadian incubator or accelerator linked to a Canadian academic institution
- A signed letter of acknowledgement from an international host incubator
Applicants must submit an application at least four (4) weeks prior to their planned business travel. Applicants are responsible for collecting all required attachments for a complete application submission.
How to apply
1. DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION HERE, including:
- Application, letter of support, and letter of acknowledgement templates
- Minimum eligibility requirements
- Adjudication criteria
2. Check with the Mitacs Entrepreneur International team to verify that your Canadian incubator or accelerator is pre-approved
3. Review the minimum eligibility and adjudication criteria
4. Collect all required supporting documentation
- Signed letter of support from an eligible Canadian incubator or accelerator linked to a Canadian academic institution
- Signed letter of acknowledgement from a host incubator in target market
5. Email your full application to meisubmissions@mitacs.ca
What happens next?
1. Your application is reviewed for minimum eligibility (typically within 10 business days)
- Please refer to the minimum eligibility requirements document included in the application package
- Mitacs staff will reach out to the primary contact listed in the application for any follow-up, as needed
2. Once the minimum eligibility criteria are met, your application will be adjudicated to ensure your business travel meets our program guidelines (typically within 10 business days)
- Please refer to the adjudication criteria document included in the application package
- Mitacs staff will reach out to the primary contact listed in the application for any follow-up, as needed
3. Mitacs will contact all participants with the outcome of their review and any applicable instructions
What if I’m successful?
1. Successful applicants will receive an Acceptance Form with their Notice of Approval, which must be signed and returned to Mitacs within one week to confirm their travel grant
- Successful applicants must agree to all terms and conditions and participant requirements set out in the Acceptance Form
2. Mitacs will send the first installment of the approved grant (80%) to the company via EFT or cheque (typically within 30 days)
3. Successful applicants travel to their target market (typically 2-6 weeks of travel)
4. Upon return, successful applicants must submit a final report detailing the outcomes of their business travel in accordance with their approved application, as well as a financial report detailing their approved expenses
- Successful applicants must maintain proper and accurate accounts, receipts and records of the approved travel expenses for a minimum of seven (7) years after the date of completion of the travel period
5. Mitacs will review final and financial reporting to ensure the total Mitacs travel grant amount does not exceed actual funds spent
6. If the actual spending detailed in the financial report is equal to or exceeds the approved budget, applicants can expect to receive the second installment (20%) via EFT or cheque within 30 days
- If the actual spending detailed in the financial report is less than the approved budget, Mitacs will amend the total travel grant amount to ensure the total Mitacs travel grant amount does not exceed actual funds spent
- Any unspent travel grant funding must promptly be returned to Mitacs
Application timeline
See our Program Administration tab for an overview of our adjudication process, participant guidelines, program deliverables and other program information.
If you have any questions about the Mitacs Entrepreneur International program, please email the Mitacs Entrepreneur International team.
