For the 13th year, the awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of top Mitacs talent and recognize the potential for innovation enabled by strong collaborations
Vancouver, BC — Mitacs has opened the call for nominations for the 13th Mitacs Awards. One of Canada’s premier innovation celebrations, the awards recognize outstanding Mitacs program participants whose groundbreaking research is fostering innovation and growth.
Students and postdoctoral fellows may be nominated for one of six categories (details below) by the post-secondary or industry partner who supervised their work during a Mitacs-funded project. Professors may be nominated for the Mitacs Award for Exceptional Leadership by the partners, co-investigators, or interns in the project on which they worked together.
Some of the groundbreaking innovations brought forward by past Mitacs Awards winners include a novel treatment for prostate cancer, an artificial intelligence system that detects heart disease, a revolutionary technology to clean up dangerous toxins, and a first-of-its-kind app to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Nominations for the 2023 awards are now open for the following categories:
- Mitacs Award for Inclusive Innovation*
Given to a student or postdoctoral fellow who has demonstrated a commitment to fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem, breaking down barriers, and creating opportunities for underrepresented and Indigenous groups in Canada. This award endeavours to recognize the achievements of equity-deserving groups within the innovation ecosystem as well as to celebrate research achievements that promote social inclusion, incorporate diverse perspectives, and prioritize accessibility in the design and execution of innovative projects, products, and services.
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — International*
Given to a student or postdoctoral fellow who has made a significant achievement in research and innovation through international collaboration during their Mitacs-funded Globalink or Accelerate International project.
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — Master’s
Given to a master’s student who has made a significant achievement in research and innovation during their Mitacs-funded project.
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — PhD
Given to a PhD student who has made a significant achievement in research and innovation during their Mitacs-funded project.
- Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — Postdoctoral*
Given to a postdoctoral fellow who has made a significant achievement in research and innovation during their Mitacs-funded project.
- Mitacs Award for Exceptional Leadership — Professor*
Given to an academic supervisor with an exemplary record of developing collaborations with industry and other partners, providing valuable research and training experiences to their interns and initiating research projects with significant outcomes through their Mitacs funding.
- Mitacs Award for Commercialization*
Given to a student or postdoctoral fellow for an idea brought from research that is now available on the market (or has strong support that it is soon to be commercialized).
*These award categories are open to nominations for college, CEGEP, polytechnic, and university participants from eligible programs.
The nomination deadline is Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 11 p.m. ET. More details on the awards and on how to submit a nomination are available at Mitacs Awards 2023.
This year’s Mitacs Awards recipients will be announced at a ceremony broadcast live from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 22, 2023.
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Dr. John Hepburn, CEO, Mitacs
“The Mitacs Awards celebrate the tremendous achievements of top innovation talent and recognize the infinite potential for research and development made possible when bold leaders work together. As we embark on our 25th anniversary year, now more than ever, Mitacs is committed to bringing innovation into reach. On behalf of Mitacs, I am pleased to honour and congratulate this year’s recipients and to celebrate their significant contributions to innovation.”
About Mitacs
Mitacs empowers Canadian innovation through effective partnerships that deliver solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Mitacs assists organizations in reaching their goals, funds cutting-edge innovation, and creates job opportunities for students and postdocs. A not-for-profit organization, 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. Learn more at mitacs.ca.
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