Mitacs reengages India to advance strategic research and talent partnerships

February 23, 2026 

Mitacs Vice President, External Relations and International Affairs, David Enriquez, accompanied by Senior Advisor, International Relations, Fiona Langdon, travelled to India from February 13–20 as part of Mitacs’ formal reengagement with one of its most dynamic and longstanding international partners. Since initiating collaboration in 2009, India has remained a cornerstone of Mitacs’ global strategy. Since 2018 alone, Mitacs has supported more than 4,000 applied research projects connecting Indian and Canadian institutions, strengthening collaboration across academia, industry, and government. 

This visit marks an important milestone as Mitacs joins other Canadian stakeholders in reestablishing high-level engagement with India, reconnecting with longstanding partners while identifying new avenues to deepen bilateral collaboration. 

New Delhi served as the first stop of the mission, featuring strategic engagements with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and the High Commission of Canada to India, including representatives from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. 

The delegation then continued to Mumbai and Bengaluru, two of India’s most influential hubs for innovation, research excellence, and entrepreneurial growth. Both regions are central to India’s global leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent development and in advancing deep tech, artificial intelligence, clean technology, and digital transformation. 

In Mumbai, meetings included the Consulate General of Canada in Mumbai, the Bureau du Québec à Mumbai, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. Discussions focused on expanding collaboration in advanced research, applied innovation, and industry partnerships. 

In Bengaluru, engagements included the Consulate General of Canada in Bengaluru, provincial representatives from British Columbia and New Brunswick, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and Happiest Minds Technologies, reinforcing opportunities to connect Canadian industry and academia with India’s leading scientific institutions and high-growth technology firms. 

Mitacs also participated in AI Summit activities in Delhi as part of Team Canada. Key engagements included discussions with Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, regarding Mitacs’ role in supporting Canada’s AI Strategy, as well as conversations with Ontario Minister Victor Fedeli and Dr. Yoshua Bengio. 

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in India provided invaluable support throughout the visit, with strong leadership from Christopher Cooter. 

As a key convenor within the innovation ecosystem, Mitacs bridges research and commercialization through a talent-first approach. We look forward to translating these engagements into concrete initiatives that advance talent mobility, strengthen industry–academia collaboration, and contribute to bilateral economic growth in support of Canada and India’s shared innovation priorities. 

“Our renewed high-level engagement with India reflects Mitacs’s commitment to fostering innovation through collaboration and global partnerships. Canada and India are partnering to drive innovation and accelerate research to market by advancing shared priorities: building a future-ready workforce, elevating research excellence, and strengthening entrepreneurship. Together, we’re forging new pathways for talent mobility and economic growth.” 

David Enriquez, Vice President, External Relations and International Affairs, Mitacs

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.