The call for applications is now open!
 

Professors can submit projects by November 17, 2023, at 5 p.m. PT.

Mitacs is pleased to launch another thematic call in cooperation with several of our international partners. This is a competitive call for applications to our Mitacs Globalink Research Award program in all areas of strategic importance for the Canadian and international research communities.   
   
Under the joint supervision of a home and host professor at a university in Canada and an institution affiliated with one of Mitacs’s international partners, senior undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows included in successful applications will receive a $6,000 research award to conduct a 12- to 24-week research project in the other country. Eligibility criteria may vary between participating international partners.   
    
The themes include but are not limited to the list below. Please note that there is a great deal of scope under the open theme social and scientific innovation, all kind of projects can be submitted under that specific theme: 

1) Advanced computing (e.g., AI and Quantum technologies, Robotics, Cybersecurity) 

2) Clean technologies (e.g., electric vehicles) 

3) Health Innovations (e.g., biomanufacturing) 

4) Open theme: Social and scientific innovation 

Mitacs is pleased to be collaborating with the following international partners in this thematic call for applications. For more information on the participating international partners and their specific eligibility requirements, go to the “International partners information” tab. 

• Argentina/Brazil/Chile/Colombia/Mexico/Ukraine: Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)  
• Australia: Universities Australia  
• Brazil: Fundação Araucária
• France: Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) 
• France: Embassy of France in Canada 
• France: Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique (Inria) 
• France: Université de Lorraine 
• Germany: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Helmholtz Association) 
• Germany: Forschungszentrum Jülich (Helmholtz Association) 
• Germany/USA/Luxembourg/Italy/The Netherlands: Max Planck Society 
• Japan: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) 
• Korea: National Research Foundation (NRF) 
• South Africa: National Research Foundation 
• Taiwan: National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)
• United Kingdom: British High Commission Ottawa

In addition to these general eligibility requirements, please also refer to the International Partners Information tab for partner-specific eligibility requirements.

Students and postdoctoral fellows

• Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian institution or eligible institution outside Canada and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award 
• Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a PhD program is no more than five years prior to the proposed start date of the research project and they have postdoctoral status at an eligible institution. 
• Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree  
  • Cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship 
    • Permanent residents or citizens of Canada who are enrolled in an eligible country other than Canada and who wish to do a project in Canada are eligible to apply.  
    • Applicants who hold citizenship of Canada and another eligible country may apply to do a project in either country  
• Must be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years of age or older) 
• Must meet travel requirements for their intended destination, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation  
• Cannot hold more than one Globalink Research Award per academic lifetime  
• Cannot have previously held a Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program award

Supervising professors

• Must hold a faculty position at an eligible institution 
• Must be eligible to supervise graduate students 
• Supervisors at Canadian institutions: Must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding
• Supervisors outside of Canadian institutions: Must be affiliated to an eligible partner

The call for applications is now open!
 

Professors can submit projects by November 17, 2023, at 5 p.m. PT.

Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’s international partners and are subject to available funding. 
 
Application process:

1. Review general and partner-specific eligibility and award guidelines.

2. Identify all the project applicants (intern, professors) as well as the international partner. Mitacs cannot connect interested interns with supervisors.

3. Home or host supervisors are asked to fill out this webform to request the link to the GRA application portal. If you are a student at an eligible institution, please have your supervising professor request it. Contact a Mitacs Advisor before starting to fill in the application. 

4. Home and host supervisors discuss project details. It is the responsibility of the participants to connect with one another. 

5. Complete your application: Each application can name up to 5 interns travelling in either direction (with some restrictions with certain international partners). Additional information will be provided through the GRA application portal.

6. The Office of Research Services (ORS) or designate signature will be required on all completed applications. Applicants should allow 1–3 weeks to obtain the appropriate signatures. 

7. The Canadian supervisor and the intern who created the application are the only participants who are able to submit the application through the portal. All participants will receive a confirmation email once the application is submitted. 

Research projects selected through this call for applications will have up to a year to begin (March 2024). All potential applicants must check with their institutions about their policies on international travel prior to submitting an application.

All parties involved with the Mitacs Globalink program must comply with Mitacs’s Research Ethics Policy and other research integrity policies at the home and host institutions.   

All parties involved with Mitacs programs should review the following policy statement and guidelines provided by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Government of Canada: 

• ISED “Policy Statement on Research Security and COVID-19” 
• Government of Canada “Safeguarding Your Research” Portal

Intern responsibilities 

• Make all necessary preparations for travel abroad with the appropriate institution office(s) 
• Obtain appropriate visa, work permit or other immigration documentation required for the destination 
• Attend any mandatory sessions as required by the home institution 
• Work full-time on the research project (at least 75% abroad, and up to 25% at the home institution) 
• Submit a final report and exit survey to Mitacs at the end of the project 

Home supervisor responsibilities 

• Adhere to institutional policies for research abroad 
• Provide ongoing direction and research support to the participant prior to and during the research project 
• Submit an exit survey and sign the final report prepared by the participant 

Host supervisor responsibilities 

• Adhere to institutional policies for visiting researchers 
• Provide ongoing direction and research support to the intern prior to and during the research project 
• Advise the intern on appropriate travel arrangements and accommodation 
• Provide the intern with any necessary documentation to support the visa application 
• Ensure the intern has appropriate lab and/or office space and resources during the research project 
• Submit an exit survey and sign the final report prepared by the intern 

Additional responsibilities of the Canadian institution and supervisor 

In addition to the above, the Canadian supervisors and institutions – whether home or host – have additional responsibilities, specifically: 

• Support interns with the necessary preparations for travel abroad (institutional travel policy, immigration application support)  
• Assume fiduciary responsibility for the Mitacs grant  

Adjudication 

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award is competitive, with limited awards available. All applications will undergo a review by an interdisciplinary team. Proposals will be adjudicated based on the following criteria: 

• Quality of the research proposal 
• Level of supervision and mentorship committed by the host supervisor 
• Strength of recommendation by the home supervisor 
• Relevance to society and industry 
• Expected benefit to Canada 

Once applications are reviewed, Outcome Letters are expected to be issued in April 2024 and will provide the outcome of the review process and outline next steps. Travel can therefore start in June 2024, once the Outcome and Award Letters are provided by Mitacs.​​

• What is eligible research? 
• Globalink Research Award Adjudication Guide 
• Mitacs Ethical Conduct Policy for Research Involving Human Subjects 
• Mitacs Ethical Conduct Policy for Research Involving Animals 
• Mitacs Policy Statement on Environmental Review
• Mitacs Conflict of Interest Policy
• Mitacs Conflict of Interest Declaration 
• Mitacs Policy on Research Integrity

Funding 

• Projects must begin within one year of the Outcome Letter being issued 
• Interns must submit the International Pre-departure and Code of Conduct forms, and confirm their project dates in order to receive the Award Letter
• Interns cannot travel until Mitacs has issued both an Outcome and Award Letter 
• Approved recipients will receive funds to support intern travel and accommodation expenses, research-related expenses, and stipend. Mitacs funds will be sent to the Canadian institution’s Office of Research Services (or equivalent) and administered as a research grant in the Canadian supervisor’s name. 
• The awards will be sponsored in part by one of Mitacs’s international partners. Where applicable, Mitacs’s Outcome Letters will provide applicants with instructions for accessing partner funds. 
• Mitacs funds must be spent according to the proposal budget and Tri-Agency eligible expenses. See the Mitacs use of funds page for details of eligible expenses for Mitacs programs. 
• Funding is based on a project duration of 12 weeks in most cases, though project durations of up to 24 weeks are acceptable. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other funding sources for longer durations and use prudence when allocating funds to travel and accommodations. 

Deliverables 
 
The following deliverables must be submitted to Mitacs no later than one month after the project concludes: 

• A final report that summarizes the project: the intern is responsible for drafting the final report and securing approval and signatures from the participating supervisors. 
• Exit survey from the student 
• Exit survey from the home academic supervisor 
• Exit survey from the host academic supervisor 

Intellectual property 

• Mitacs does not claim any ownership of intellectual property developed through research projects and internships that are funded 
• It is recommended that the participating organizations and institutions undertaking a research collaboration through Mitacs-funded projects come to a mutual understanding on the intellectual property implications of the project(s) 

The following are some frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, please contact international@mitacs.ca. 

1.  I don’t see my institution in the list of participating international partners. Is there another program to which I could apply?

This GRA thematic call is undertaken in collaboration with a select number of our international partners. If your institution is not listed or if you are enrolled at a Ukrainian institution, please visit the standard GRA program page or contact a Business Development representative for more information about the GRA program or our other international programs.

2. I don’t have contacts at the institution where I want to develop a project; how do I get connected with them?

It is the responsibility of the participants to get in touch with each other.  

3. Can Mitacs help me find a host professor? 

No. Students and postdoctoral fellows are responsible for identifying a home and host academic supervisor. You may wish to begin by asking your home supervisor to assist you. 

4. Is my project eligible if it is not in one of the themes listed?

Yes. The themes were identified with the intention of being inclusive of all themes, including the social sciences and humanities and/or to encourage interdisciplinary approaches, in particular, the open theme: social and scientific innovation. In the research proposal, you will be asked to explain how your project is linked to the themes.