Mitacs partners with Alberta Innovates to accelerate innovation and talent development

Calgary, AB – Mitacs, a national organization that connects big ideas, people, and drive with businesses ready to deliver a return on innovation, and Alberta Innovates, Alberta’s innovation engine, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration and expand opportunities for talent development, commercialization, and innovation in the province.  

The agreement was signed last night at the Mitacs Connect: Celebrating Alberta’s Innovators event which brought together leaders from industry, academia, and government, including the Honourable Myles McDougall, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education.  

Mitacs and Alberta Innovates will work together to identify areas for collaboration to further innovation, commercialization, and ecosystem engagement, including joint initiatives, pilot programs and coordinated outreach to support priority sectors.  

In addition, both organizations will strengthen referral pathways between their networks, ensuring that eligible companies, researchers, and institutions can connect more easily to funding and programs. By improving coordination, the partnership will reduce friction and accelerate the path from research to real-world industry applications.  

Mitacs is a key contributor to Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. Since 2018, the organization has collaborated with more than 1,400 industry partners to support over 11,000 internships and helped mobilize more than $170 million in investment in research and development across the province.  

Together, Mitacs and Alberta Innovates will help strengthen Alberta’s innovation ecosystem by improving access, coordination, and outcomes for talent and companies across the province. 

Quotes 

“This partnership is about making it easier for organizations in Alberta to access the talent, research, and support they need to compete and move faster. By strengthening how our networks connect with Alberta Innovates, we’re creating clearer pathways from research and ideation to commercialization and helping more Alberta-based innovators turn ideas into results.”

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs 

“Alberta Innovates is focused on helping innovators across the province access the programs, funding and connections they need to grow and compete. By working more closely with Mitacs, we are strengthening coordination across the ecosystem and accelerating the development and adoption of new innovations in Alberta.”

Mike Mahon, CEO, Alberta Innovates 

“Our government is focused on connecting students and researchers with meaningful, real-world opportunities. This partnership will expand pathways for talent development, strengthen connections with industry, and help keep Alberta’s economy strong by ensuring our province remains a leader in innovation and research.”

The Honourable Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education, Alberta 

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. Mitacs supports business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, acting as an essential research-commercialization bridge. 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 Alberta Innovates 

Alberta Innovates is the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency. From funding to commercialization, we are Alberta’s innovation engine. We foster and accelerate research and innovation to benefit citizens and drive economic growth.