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February 5, 2026
Toronto, ON – Mitacs and the Toronto Region Board of Trade (TRBOT) today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to propel research-driven economic growth and strengthen innovation.
As the chamber of commerce for Canada’s largest regional economy, TRBOT helps businesses connect, access growth tools, and engage policymakers on key opportunities and challenges. Its trade services and scale-up arm — the World Trade Centre Toronto (WTC-T) — delivers best-in-class programs that support business expansion and international trade.
As a leading innovation organization and convenor, Mitacs serves as a bridge between academia and industry to accelerate research-to-market pathways. Through co-funded internships for students and postdoctoral fellows, Mitacs connects businesses with academic expertise to drive real-world solutions.
Under the MOU, Mitacs and TRBOT will collaborate on key areas:
- Strategic initiatives: Joint projects and programs advancing economic growth and resilience through access to talent and resources.
- Thought leadership: Co-hosted discussions, roundtables, and events to foster knowledge-sharing and cross-sector innovation.
- Network referrals: Strengthened pathways to connect organizations with resources, expertise, and advisory support across Canada’s innovation ecosystem.
Quotes
“We are proud of this new partnership with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, a collaboration that will help provide access to talent, create new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and work to strengthen economic growth and resilience in one of Canada’s largest innovation hubs.”
Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs
“We’re excited to partner with Mitacs to grow technology-capable, business-ready talent from Ontario’s universities and colleges. This tangibly advances our mission to strengthen productivity, competitiveness and business growth in our region.
Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade
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.
About the Toronto Region Board of Trade
The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential business chambers in North America and is a catalyst for the region’s economic agenda. We pursue policy change to drive the growth and competitiveness of the Toronto region and facilitate market opportunities with programs, partnerships and connections to help our members succeed — domestically and internationally.
