Grant
Federal
Active
Mitacs Accelerate
Mitacs
Maximum Funding
$15,000 per internship unit (standard graduate); $20,000 per...
Ongoing
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Advance Payment
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Mitacs Accelerate provides up to $15,000 per internship unit (standard graduate); $20,000 per unit (postdoctoral fellow). Connects companies with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for research and development projects, with matching funding for the internships. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Approval odds: ~40% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Connects companies with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for research and development projects, with matching funding for the internships.
Eligibility Requirements
- Incorporated Canadian company or organization (sole proprietorships ineligible for the Accelerate Entrepreneur stream)
- Has a genuine R&D challenge that would benefit from collaboration with a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow
- Can provide new cash funding as the company contribution (in-kind contributions alone are insufficient)
- Must partner with a Canadian university or college and an eligible academic supervisor
- Project must involve an eligible academic institution on NSERC's approved institutions list
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- $15,000 per internship unit (standard graduate); $20,000 per unit (postdoctoral fellow)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Approval Rate
~40%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Mitacs Accelerate
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipThe near-100% approval rate for properly-prepared applications means the real work happens BEFORE submission.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 8
- Project lacks genuine research content — routine consulting, IT implementation, or operational work does not qualify
+7 more pitfalls
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See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.
Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
8 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
9 docs
Application Steps
1
Contact Mitacs Advisor Reach out to your regional Mitacs Business Development representative to discuss your research project idea and confirm eligibility.
Required Documents 9
✓ Mitacs Accelerate proposal (latest template, Word format)
✓ Appendix A: Accelerate Intern Consent Form (signed)
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 5
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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5 partners
Compatible Programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Mitacs Accelerate Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Industrial Research Assistance Progra... | Up to $1M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Youth Employment and Skills Program | Up to $25K | Hard | Advance Payment | Between intakes —... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Mitacs Accelerate
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Can sole proprietors apply?
No — sole proprietors are ineligible for the Accelerate Entrepreneur stream. Only incorporated Canadian companies or organizations qualify.
What's the typical award amount?
$15,000 per internship unit (IU) for standard projects. Cluster projects cost $6,000/IU, netting $13,300 per IU for the partner organization.
How long does approval take?
Applications are reviewed year-round with no fixed deadlines. Submit at least 8 weeks before the internship start date (16 weeks for international travel).
Why do applications fail?
Projects lacking genuine research content (e.g., routine IT work), or partner organizations unable to provide new cash funds (not in-kind only).
Can I stack this with other grants?
Yes — most powerful with NSERC Alliance Grants (joint review) and SR&ED (partner can claim tax credit on their $7,500 contribution).
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Full Playbook: Mitacs Accelerate
7 steps · 9 docs · reviewer insights