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Vancouver, BC – Mitacs is pleased to announce a new partnership with TU Austria, an association of technical institutions, to enhance international research mobility and strengthen collaboration between Canadian and Austrian research communities through the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) program.
This agreement welcomes Austria as GRI‑eligible countries for the first time, expanding international talent mobility by enabling students from TU Austria to participate in 12-week research internships at Canadian universities. These Mitacs internships provide hands-on experience working with Canadian faculty and support students in applying their academic knowledge in innovative environments while developing technical, professional, and cross-cultural skills.
TU Austria unites three leading technological universities — TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Graz University of Technology, and Montanuniversität Leoben — institutions collectively recognized for excellence in engineering, technology, applied sciences, and sustainable innovation. This partnership builds on shared research strengths between Canada and Austria, including AI, advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, and sustainable resource innovation, offering an opportunity to enhance global priorities and emerging technologies.
By hosting TU Austria students, Canadian institutions benefit from specialized knowledge and innovative ideas, while students gain valuable international experience. These connections lay the groundwork for expanded bilateral collaboration between Canada and Austria through programs such as the Globalink Research Award (GRA), which supports short- to medium-term joint projects for senior undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.
Through Globalink, Mitacs continues to build bridges between institutions and researchers across nations — enabling collaborative discovery, strengthening research capacity, and reinforcing Canada’s role as a global hub for research excellence.
In alignment with the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, Mitacs continues to expand opportunities for global talent mobility and attraction. In March, Mitacs launched the Accelerate Global Excellence Award, a new initiative to attract and support highly skilled, exceptional international postdoctoral researchers, including Canadians currently studying abroad, to collaborate with Canadian postsecondary and partnering organizations.
Quotes
“By connecting researchers in Canada and Austria, this inaugural agreement with Austria TU creates new opportunities to drive innovation in areas such as AI, clean technology, and advanced manufacturing. By strengthening ties between our research and innovation ecosystems, we are training the next generation of innovators to tackle global challenges – powering shared economic growth and resilience.”
Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs
“International cooperation is a key driver of scientific excellence and innovation. The Globalink programme offers our students the opportunity to experience research in a world-class international environment and to expand their expertise globally. At the same time, we are strengthening scientific ties between Austria and Canada.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider, President of TU Austria and Rector of TU Wien
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 TU Austria
TU Austria is an alliance of Austria’s technical universities founded in 2010 by the TU Wien, Graz University of Technology and the Technical University of Leoben. Since 2025, the BOKU University, the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Johannes Kepler University Linz and the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at the University of Innsbruck have strengthened TU Austria as associate members.
Under the motto “feel. tech. europe.”, the universities of TU Austria are pooling their resources and leveraging synergies to achieve more together in research, teaching and higher education policy, and to act as a reliable partner for industry and business through their combined expertise. TU Austria is a strong, internationally networked forum and stands for scientific excellence, economic relevance and sustainable development in Austria.
