Updated June 2026 · Verified against Mitacs guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Advance Payment Est. 2021
Grant Federal Active

Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI)

Mitacs
Maximum Funding
$10,000 Mitacs contribution per internship (standard; company...
Ongoing — rolling applications year-round
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Advance Payment
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) provides up to $10,000 Mitacs contribution per internship (standard; company contributes $5,000); or $15,000 model (company contributes $7,500; up to $5,000 for project costs). Pairs businesses with MBA and business graduate interns for 4-6 month strategic projects. 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

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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)
Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
$10,000 Mitacs contribution per internship (standard; company contributes $5,000); or $15,000 model (company contributes $7,500; up to $5,000 for project costs)
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

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Approval Rate
~40%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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What's in this Playbook

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How to Win

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Insider Tip

This is the easiest Mitacs program to access — no academic partner needed (Mitacs handles matching).

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Contact Mitacs Advisor Reach out to your regional Mitacs Business Development team to discuss your business strategy project idea and confirm eligibility.

Required Documents 4

Online application via Mitacs portal
Project description for the intern

Eligible Expenses 5

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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Compatible Programs

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Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How BSI Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (... up to $5,000 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.) Applications accepted...
Mitacs Accelerate $15,000 per internship unit Easy Advance Payment Ongoing

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 BSI

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Can sole proprietors apply?
Yes, sole proprietors qualify as long as they define a strategic business project and contribute 50% of the stipend ($5K-$7.5K). No incorporation required.
What's the typical award amount?
$5,000-$7,500 (50% of the $10K-$15K total intern cost). The business pays the other 50% — no additional matching required beyond that.
How long does approval take?
Rolling intake — applications reviewed within 2-4 weeks after submission. Contact your regional Mitacs team for faster processing.
Why do applications get rejected?
Projects described as administrative (e.g., 'help with social media') instead of strategic (e.g., 'develop export strategy for EU market').
Can I stack this with IRAP?
Yes, if the BSI project has an R&D component (e.g., intern analyzing new tech market viability). IRAP covers technical costs while BSI covers business strategy.

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