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Discover more stories about Mitacs — and the game-changing innovations driven by students and postdocs.
The challenge: Advancing the energy sector while transitioning to renewables
As Canada shifts toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy system, the need for innovative solutions to strengthen the electrical grid, integrate renewable energy, and reduce emissions has never been greater. Meeting these challenges requires cutting-edge research, advanced technology, and a pipeline of skilled scientific and engineering talent ready to tackle the energy sector’s most pressing problems.
The solution: Tapping student talent to drive breakthroughs
Hydro-Québec’s innovation hub, the Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec (IREQ), has been turning research into action since 1970. By partnering with Mitacs, IREQ brings students and researchers from top Canadian universities—such as McGill, Polytechnique Montréal, University of Toronto, and McMaster—into hands-on projects that explore AI, digital twins, robotics, advanced materials, and cybersecurity.
Over the past five years, Hydro-Québec and Mitacs co-funded more than 1,600 student internships, 60 percent of which took place at IREQ. In 2024 alone, 163 internships supported research directly addressing energy grid reliability, predictive maintenance, renewable integration, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The outcome: From research innovation to real-world energy solutions
Student-led projects are helping Hydro-Québec detect turbine blade fatigue early, optimize grid maintenance, and improve predictive models for energy demand. Digital twin technologies, informed by this research, allow the company to forecast asset performance and prevent failures before they happen. AI algorithms developed by Mitacs interns now support real-time fault detection and predictive maintenance across the energy grid, strengthening reliability and resilience.
Through these initiatives, Hydro-Québec not only advances clean energy technology but also cultivates the next generation of Canadian researchers, ensuring that the country has the talent needed to continue innovating in the energy sector.
Talent in action: Innovation meets impact
For its work, Hydro-Québec has earned the Mitacs Innovation Award — Canadian Enterprise Innovator of the Year. The award, presented by Mitacs, recognizes organizations that demonstrate leadership in adopting emerging technologies, supporting cutting-edge research, and turning innovation into tangible impact.
“Partnering with Mitacs allows Hydro-Québec to connect academic excellence with industrial innovation,” said Christian Bélanger, Senior Director for Research and Innovation. “Through these collaborations, we strengthen our leadership in clean energy and invest in the next generation of researchers whose work is shaping the future of Canada’s energy sector.”
Hydro-Québec is one of 11 Mitacs award winners nationally, selected from thousands of participants in Mitacs programs each year. The awards were presented at a ceremony at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on November 17.
About Mitacs
For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. We support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.
As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. We serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services.
This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation.
Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.
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Electrical Business: Hydro-Quebec’s partnership with Mitacs recognized with Innovation Award
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Ziona Eyob
