Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Pairs businesses with MBA and business graduate interns for 4-6 month strategic projects. Mitacs covers 50% of the $10,000-$15,000 intern stipend. Projects focus on market analysis, business development, competitive intelligence, and growth strategy — more business-oriented than Mitacs Accelerate (ID 38).
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian business, non-profit, or public-sector organization
- Must define a strategic business project for the intern
- Intern must be enrolled in an MBA or business graduate program at a Canadian institution
- Company contributes 50% of intern stipend ($5,000-$7,500)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $5,000-$7,500 Mitacs contribution per internship (company matches 50%)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — rolling applications year-round
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win BSI — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 4-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 8-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for BSI? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis is the easiest Mitacs program to access — no academic partner needed (Mitacs handles matching). Define a clear 4-6 month business project (market research, competitor analysis, export feasibility, pricing strategy) and Mitacs finds an MBA student. Great for SMEs that need strategic analysis but can't afford a consultant. Stack with IRAP if the project has an R&D angle.
Success Profile
Any Canadian business needing 4-6 months of strategic business analysis. Especially valuable for SMEs planning market entry, competitive positioning, or growth strategy.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are reviewed over approximately 4 weeks and assessed on: (1) economic and societal benefits of the project, (2) support for skilled talent development, (3) quality of academic-industry-community collaboration, (4) risk assessment and mitigation planning, and (5) potential impact on intellectual property commercialization. No published scoring weights. The review is less rigorous than Mitacs Accelerate since BSI does not require external peer review.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 4
Eligible Expenses 5
- Intern stipend (minimum $10,000 per internship under both funding models)
- Project costs directly tied to the business strategy project (up to $5,000 under $15,000 model only)
- Market research tools and subscriptions needed for the project
- Data acquisition costs for competitive intelligence or market analysis
- Travel expenses directly related to the project
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Administrative overhead not directly tied to the project
- General business operations or day-to-day management tasks
- Capital expenditures or equipment purchases
- Entertainment or hospitality expenses
- Costs incurred before funds are released to the institution
Intake Periods
Continuous — rolling applications accepted year-round. No fixed deadlines or intake windows. Contact your regional Mitacs Business Development team to initiate the process and be matched with suitable interns. Academic calendar may affect intern availability (most start in May, September, or January).
Deadline Notes
Rolling intake. Applications accepted year-round. Contact your regional Mitacs Business Development team to be matched with suitable interns.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Organizations where the proposed intern has a position of ownership, employment, or influence over daily operations
- Organizations outside Canada without a Canadian co-applicant
- Organizations that cannot demonstrate ability to adequately supervise the intern
- For-profit companies that receive more than 50% of their revenue from government sources
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow BSI Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (... | $5,000-$7,500 M | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing — rolling... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BSI