Mitacs and Gyeongsangbuk-do sign agreement to foster talent development and industrial collaboration

Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea and Vancouver, BC – April 1, 2026

Today, Mitacs has signed a new agreement with Gyeongsangbuk-do to formalize strategic engagement and advance collaboration between the postsecondary sector and industry. The agreement was signed during a virtual ceremony attended by Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs, Geumhee Yang, Vice Governor, Economic Affairs of Gyeonsangbuk-do, and representatives from participating universities.

Through the agreement, the parties will collaborate to cultivate young talent and strengthen linkages between industry and academia. The agreement also establishes a shared intent to identify opportunities for cooperation in future growth sectors of the economy, including aerospace, drones, advanced mobility and next-generation transportation, and artificial intelligence.

The agreement seeks to expand opportunities for students from universities in Gyeongsangbuk-do to participate in research internship programs in Canada, supporting international research exposure, skills development, and sustained academic collaboration. In doing so, the parties aim to strengthen research networks that connect students and institutions with global environments and applied innovation ecosystems.

In addition, the agreement includes provisions for industrial collaboration through joint research and development initiatives that bring together universities, companies, and research institutions. Initial areas of focus will include aerospace, drones, and advanced mobility, with the scope of cooperation expected to broaden over time to include artificial intelligence, defence, and robotics.

The parties will also establish a framework for trilateral cooperation among companies, research institutions, and universities in Korea and Canada. This framework aims to align talent development in regional universities with industry-driven technological needs, and to scale these efforts into broader international joint research and industrial partnerships.

This collaboration builds on Mitacs’ evergrowing partnerships in Korea, including established industry collaborations with the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), QCenter, Global Robot Clusters (GRC), and Gyeongbuk National University, alongside research mobility agreements with the Korea Aerospace Agency (KAU) and Hanseo University. Together, these partnerships support a continuum of engagement that connects research mobility, academic collaboration, and industry-linked innovation, aligning advanced research talent with real-world industrial and economic priorities.

Quotes

“International research collaboration is essential to developing the talent, knowledge, and partnerships required for Canada and Korea to compete in strategically important sectors of the global economy. Through this agreement with Gyeongsangbuk-do, Mitacs is strengthening applied research collaboration between our two countries in critical areas such as advanced mobility, aerospace, and artificial intelligence. These institutional linkages help build long-term research capacity, align academic training with industry needs, and advance innovation outcomes.”

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs

“This agreement marks an important starting point for young talent in Gyeongsangbuk-do to gain experience in world-class research environments, while expanding international collaboration networks for our regional universities and industries. We will continue to support student participation in global programs such as Canadian research internships, and further strengthen joint research and industrial partnerships aligned with our strategic industries.”

Geumhee Yang, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do

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.