Ottawa: The Government of Canada announced a $40 million investment in the future of Canadian innovation that will support students through Mitacs (formerly called Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems) internships.
The funding will provide 5,000 new internship opportunities for college and university students across Canada.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitacs — in partnership with the Government of
Canada and provinces across the country — has launched several new initiatives to help students gain employment throughout the summer, while continuing to drive innovation and economic development. The infusion of workforce talent these internships provide for Canada’s smalland medium-sized businesses (SMEs), coupled with the opportunity for work-integrated learning for our nation’s student population, result in essential tools to
effectively battle COVID-19, and mitigate its economic aftermath.
The new funding enables Mitacs to expand its internships for the first time to serve students at the undergraduate level and in professional programs — such as medicine, law, and business — as well as students conducting innovation internships beyond research. It also allows Mitacs to partner with organizations such as hospitals, foundations, and
municipal governments.
As a result of this new funding Mitacs now offers:
• An extension of the temporary discounted rate for SME projects. Additional funding supports are available within specific regions and sectors thanks to partnerships with Innovate BC, ENCQOR, AGE-WELL, and others.
• Business Strategy Internships that connect undergraduate and MBA students with SMEs to address COVID-19 challenges. This will soon be expanded to students in other academic disciplines as well as college students.
• Direct partnerships with municipalities to address critical issues such as public health, cybersecurity, climate change, and economic development.
The $40 million in funds are a result of the Government of Canada announcement of $9 billion to support post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic made in April, 2020. The Government investment is for the 2020–21 fiscal year.
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry said: “Work-integrated learning helps prepare Canadian students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our investment for Mitacs’s work placements will give students the skills they need to support Canadian businesses as they re-open while ensuring Canada’s economy continues to thrive.”
Mona Fortierm Minister for Middle Class Prosperity & Associate Min. of Finance and MP
for Ottawa-Vanier, said: “We’re investing $40 million in @MitacsCanada for 5,000 new internships to support #SMEs.”