Mitacs–Helmholtz  Association collaboration opens opportunities for Canadian and German researchers 

Berlin, Germany — Mitacs is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Helmholtz Association in Germany, strengthening collaboration between Canadian and German research communities and enhancing opportunities for international research mobility. 

The Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization, comprising 18 research centers that carry out large-scale, interdisciplinary research addressing society’s most pressing challenges. Its work is organized across six research fields: Energy; Earth and Environment; Health; Information; Aeronautics, Space and Transport; and Matter. 

Signed at Helmholtz Association headquarters in Berlin, the Letter of Intent affirms each party’s desire to expand collaboration through the Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA). The partnership aims to create new opportunities for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers to undertake short-term bilateral research projects under joint Canadian – German faculty supervision. 

The collaboration comes as Canada and Germany prepare to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and 55 years of formal science and technological cooperation in 2026. It reflects a shared recognition of the critical role that science, technology, and innovation play in supporting economic growth, societal wellbeing, and long-term prosperity in both countries. 

By engaging all 18 Helmholtz research centers, the partnership underscores the importance of international cooperation as a driver of research excellence and workforce development. It enables both organizations to explore collaboration opportunities aligned with joint Canada – Germany strategic priorities. 

Through its Globalink programming, Mitacs continues to build bridges between institutions and researchers worldwide – enabling collaborative discovery, strengthening research capacity, and reinforcing Canada’s role as a global hub for research excellence. 

As priorities evolve, Mitacs and the Helmholtz Association may also jointly identify and pursue new areas of cooperation, as mutually agreed upon.

Quotes 

“International research collaboration is essential to addressing the complex challenges facing our world and to developing the next generation of research talent. This new collaboration will create valuable opportunities for Canadian and German students and postdoctoral researchers to work together across critical fields including energy, earth and environment, health, information, aeronautics, space and transport, and matter. This is an important investment in talent development that will benefit both our countries for years to come.” 

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs 

Excellent science thrives on international young researchers. The new partnership with Mitacs further expands opportunities for scientific mobility and long-term collaboration between Helmholtz and partners in Canada, connecting talented early-career scientists from both countries and enabling them to work together on the major challenges of our time. Especially in light of current geopolitical shifts, it is more important than ever to strengthen transatlantic relations with like-minded partners such as Canada and to advance research grounded in shared values, openness, and innovative strength. 

Dr. Sabine Helling-Moegen, Managing Director, Helmholtz Association 

Mitacs: Talent and Research Powering Innovation  

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. 

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers  

Helmholtz contributes to solving major and pressing societal, scientific, and economic challenges through scientific excellence in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space, and Transport. With approximately 48,000 employees in 18 research centers and an annual budget exceeding 6 billion euros, Helmholtz is the largest scientific organization in Germany. Its work follows in the tradition of the great natural scientist Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894).