Turning Business Challenges into Innovation Opportunities

How Mitacs Helps Companies Solve Real-World Problems

In today’s economy, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. Across sectors, Canadian companies are facing complex challenges: adapting to digital transformation, responding to supply chain disruptions, and staying ahead in a fast-moving global marketplace. But for many organizations, particularly small and mid-sized enterprises, limited R&D capacity and access to talent can stall progress.

That’s where Mitacs comes in.

Mitacs is Canada’s national innovation partner, connecting businesses with post-secondary researchers and co-funding collaborative R&D projects that deliver real, measurable results. Since 2018, Mitacs has supported over 99,000 internships and 35,000 innovation projects through partnerships with more than 11,000 companies, the vast majority of which are SMEs.

Solving Business Challenges Through Applied Research

Unlike traditional research that often stays within academic institutions, Mitacs-supported projects are designed to solve business problems—fast.

Here’s how:

• Tight project timelines (as short as 4 months)
• Applied research focus, aligned to industry needs
• Co-funding model that reduces R&D costs by up to 50%
• Flexible engagement, from in-person to remote collaboration

Whether it’s developing a new product, optimizing operations, or exploring a new market, Mitacs helps companies access the right research expertise and talent to move forward.

Real-World Business Outcomes

These are just a few examples of how companies are using Mitacs partnerships to overcome real-world hurdles:

• Montreal-based Pyrowave collaborated with the University of Sherbrooke on a Mitacs-funded project to electrify cement production using microwave technology—aiming to reduce carbon emissions by up to 35% and decarbonize one of the world’s highest-emitting industries.
  Read the case study
• British Columbia cleantech startup: Developed and patented a proprietary carbon-capture method with the help of a Mitacs-funded chemistry postdoc, leading to early-stage investment.
  Read the case study
• Toronto health-tech company: Refined its go-to-market strategy and improved customer retention by 25% using insights generated by Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) participants.

According to a 2024 Statistics Canada study, firms that partnered with Mitacs increased their R&D spending by 37% over seven years and saw an average rise of 16% in sales and 11% in productivity. Meanwhile, similar firms without Mitacs support saw declines in investment and workforce size.

Why Industry Leaders Choose Mitacs

• Access to top-tier talent from over 198 post-secondary institutions
• Sector-specific expertise in AI, advanced manufacturing, cleantech, life sciences, and more
• National reach with regional insight, including local Mitacs advisors who help companies navigate the process
• Flexible funding model, with projects starting at $15K and scaling based on scope

Programs Tailored to Your Business Needs

• Accelerate: R&D collaborations with graduate students or postdocs for technical challenges
• Accelerate Entrepreneur: Support for startups founded by graduate students or postdocs
• Business Strategy Internship (BSI): Applied business-focused projects, including market research, digital transformation, and customer insights
• Globalink: Access to global talent and international research collaboration opportunities

Let’s Talk About Your Next Project

If your company is navigating change, entering a new market, or facing a technical roadblock, Mitacs can help you find a research-based solution. With streamlined processes and proven impact, Mitacs-supported innovation projects are built to meet business timelines and deliver real value.