Student/Post Doc
Globalink Research Award: Thematic Call
Mitacs is launching another thematic call in cooperation with several of our international partners in September. This is a competitive call for applications to our Mitacs Globalink Research Award program in all areas of strategic importance for the Canadian and international research communities and closed as of November 20, 2024.
Call is closed.
Program Details
Under the joint supervision of a home and host professor at a university in Canada and an institution affiliated with one of Mitacs’ international partners, senior undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows included in successful applications will receive a $6,000 research award to conduct a 12- to 24-week research project in the other country. Eligibility criteria may vary between participating international partners. All internship units are subject to funding availability by Mitacs and the international partner.
The 2024 call for applications is now closed.
The themes include but are not limited to the list below. Please note that there is a great deal of scope under the open theme humanities and social innovation, all kind of projects can be submitted under that specific theme:
1) Digital and Emerging technology (e.g. AI, Advanced Computing, Cybersecurity, Semiconductors)
2) Sustainability and Net Zero (e.g. Electric Vehicles, Critical Minerals, Hydrogen, Energy Transition, Oceans, Clean Technology)
3) Life Sciences (e.g. Biomanufacturing, Bioeconomy, Agri-Food, Agri-Tech, Health Sciences)
4) Humanities and Social Innovation (open category)
Mitacs is pleased to be collaborating with the following international partners in this thematic call for applications. For more information on the participating international partners and their specific eligibility requirements, go to the “International partners information” section.
Funding
- Projects must begin within one year of the Outcome Letter being issued
- Interns must submit the International Pre-departure form, and confirm their project dates in order to receive the Award Letter
- Interns cannot travel until Mitacs has issued both an Outcome and Award Letter
- Approved recipients will receive funds to support intern travel and accommodation expenses, research-related expenses, and stipend. Mitacs funds will be sent to the Canadian institution’s Office of Research Services (or equivalent) and administered as a research grant in the Canadian supervisor’s name.
- The awards will be sponsored in part by one of Mitacs’s international partners. Where applicable, Mitacs’s Outcome Letters will provide applicants with instructions for accessing partner funds.
- Mitacs funds must be spent according to the proposal budget and Tri-Agency eligible expenses. Please refer to the ‘Mitacs Use of Funds Policy’ which is available for download under ‘How to Apply’.
- Funding is based on a project duration of 12 weeks in most cases, though project durations of up to 24 weeks are acceptable. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other funding sources for longer durations and use prudence when allocating funds to travel and accommodations.
International Partners
Australia: Universities Australia
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time senior undergraduate, master’s and PhD students or postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions:
- Flinders University
- La Trobe University
- RMIT University
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- University of Technology Sydney
- The Australian National University
Other requirements: N/A
Themes: All themes
Website: Universities Australia
Brazil: Fundação Araucária Foundation
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time senior undergraduates, master’s and PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions :
- Centro Universitário de Maringá – UNICESUMAR
- Instituto Federal do Paraná – IFPR
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná – PUC
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina – UEL
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM
- Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa – UEPG
- Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste – UNICENTRO
- Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná – UENP
- Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná – UNIOESTE
- Universidade Estadual do Paraná – UNESPAR
- Universidade Federal da Fronteira do Sul – UFFS
- Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana – UNILA
- Universidade Federal do Paraná – UFPR
- Universidade Positivo
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná – UTFPR
- Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná
Other requirements: N/A
Themes: All themes
Website: Fundação Araucária Foundation
Chile: Consejo de Rectores de las Universidades Chilenas (CRUCH-FUDEA)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time senior undergraduates, master’s, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions:
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Universidad Católica del Maule
- Universidad Católica del Norte
- Universidad de La Frontera
- Universidad de O’Higgins
Other requirements: 1 student per project maximum
Themes: All themes
Website: Consejo de Rectores de las Universidades Chilenas
France: Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time PhD students and postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: All labs identified as UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche) as well as UPR (Unité Propose de Recherche)
Other requirements: 1 student per project maximum
Themes: All themes
Website: Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
France: French Embassy in Canada
Travel direction: Travel from Canada only
Intern level: Full-time senior undergraduates, master’s and PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: All universities in France
Other requirements: 2 students maximum per project, supports projects outside of Quebec only
Themes: All themes
Website: French Embassy in Canada
France: Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique (Inria)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level:
- Travel to Canada: Full-time PhD students
- Travel from Canada: Full-time master’s or PhD students
Duration: 16–24 weeks
Award:
Travel to Canada: $3,000 + reimbursement by Inria of flight, visa and accommodation costs (to a maximum of $3,000).
Travel from Canada: $3,000 + a monthly allowance of approximately 600€ (≈ $900)
Eligible institutions: Centres de recherche INRIA :
- Centre Inria de l’Université de Bordeaux
- Centre Inria de l’Université Grenoble Alpes
- Centre Inria de l’Université de Lille
- Centre Inria de Lyon
- Centre Inria de l’Université de Lorraine
- Centre Inria de Paris
- Centre Inria de l’Université de Rennes
- Centre Inria de Saclay
- Centre Inria d’Université Côte-d’Azur
Other requirements: 1 student per project maximum. Projects must include a minimum of 16 weeks at the host institution to be eligible.
Themes: All themes
Website: Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique (Inria)
France: Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: PhD students and post-doctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: All INSERM research units
Themes: Life Sciences
Website: Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm)
France: Université de Lorraine
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level:
- Travel to Canada: full-time second year master’s and PhD students or postdoctoral fellows
- Travel from Canada: full-time second year master’s and PhD students or postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: Université de Lorraine
Other requirements: Before applying, any candidate must first present their project at mitacs-contact@univ-lorraine.fr to ensure that UL and the supervisor at UL agree to co-fund it.
Themes: All themes
Website: Université de Lorraine
Germany: Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ Helmholtz Association)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time PhD students and postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions:
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C)
- Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS)
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG)
- Institute for Biological Information processing (IBI)
- Institute of Climate and Energy Systems (ICE)
- Institute of Energy Technologies (IET)
- Institute of Fusion Energy and Nuclear Waste Management (IFN)
- Nuclear Physics Institute (IKP)
- Institute of Energy Materials and Devices (IMD)
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM)
- Institute for a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW)
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS)
- Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI)
- Central Institute for Engineering, Electronics and Analytics (ZEA)
Other requirements: N/A
Themes: Digital and Emerging technology, Sustainability and Net Zero, Life Sciences
Website: Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ Helmholtz Association)
Germany: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time PhD students and postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: KIT departments and KIT divisions
Other requirements: N/A
Themes: All themes
Website: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Korea: National Research Foundation (NRF) Korea
Travel direction: Travel from Canada
Intern level: Full time master’s and PhD students, or postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: All universities in Korea
Other requirements: Participants applying from Canada must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
Themes: All themes
Website: National Research Foundation of Korea
South Africa: National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF SA)
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time PhD students and postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions:
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Central University of Technology, Free State
- Durban University of Technology
- Mangosuthu University of Technology
- Nelson Mandela University
- North-West University
- Rhodes University
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
- Sol Plaatje University
- Stellenbosch University
- Tshwane University of Technology
- University of Cape Town
- University of Fort Hare
- University of Johannesburg
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- University of Limpopo
- University of Mpumalanga
- University of Pretoria
- University of South Africa
- University of the Free State
- University of the Western Cape
- University of the Witwatersrand
- University of Venda
- University of Zululand
- Vaal University of Technology
- Walter Sisulu University of Technology
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
- Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR)
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA)
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB)
- KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
- National Health Laboratory Service
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases
- National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA)
- Oceanographic Research Institute (SAAMBR)
- Onderstepoort Biological Products
- South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
- South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI)
- The Aurum Institute NPC
- iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Science
- South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
- South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)
- iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Science
- South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
- South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)
- Agricultural Research Council (South Africa) – Consists of 13 Institutes
- Council for Geoscience
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Consists of 9 Clusters
- Human Science Research Council (HSRC)
- Mintek
- Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA (NECSA)
- South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
- South African Medical Research Council (MRC)
Other requirements (travel to Canada): Be a South African Citizen or permanent resident; doctoral student or postdoctoral fellow for the full duration of the Mitacs award
Themes: All themes
Website: National Research Foundation
Taiwan: National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) - NARLabs
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: Full-time master’s, PhD students or postdoctoral fellows
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: All universities in Taiwan
Other requirements:
- Travel to Canada: Must be a citizen of Taiwan
- Travel from Canada: Must be a citizen of Canada
Themes: All themes
Website:
Mandarin:臺加雙邊人才研習計畫 | 國家實驗研究院 (narlabs.org.tw)
English:Taiwan-Canada Bilateral Fellowship Program | National Applied Research Laboratories (narlabs.org.tw)
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United Kingdom: British High Commission of Ottawa
Travel direction: Travel to Canada and travel from Canada
Intern level: PhD students
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Award: $6,000
Eligible institutions: All universities in the UK
Other requirements:
Themes: Whilst the scheme is open to all themes, priority will be afforded to the areas of cooperation set out in the UK-Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific research and innovation. This includes: life sciences, sustainability and net zero (including polar research and nuclear technologies), and digital and emerging technologies (including AI and semiconductors).
Website: British High Commission of Ottawa
Eligibility
In addition to these general eligibility requirements, please also refer to the International Partners Information section for partner-specific eligibility requirements.
Students and postdoctoral fellows
- Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian institution or eligible institution outside Canada and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award
- Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a PhD program is no more than five years prior to the proposed start date of the research project and they have postdoctoral status at an eligible institution.
- Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree
- Cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship
- Permanent residents or citizens of Canada who are enrolled in an eligible country other than Canada and who wish to do a project in Canada are eligible to apply.
- Applicants who hold citizenship of Canada and another eligible country may apply to do a project in either country
- Must be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years of age or older)
- Must meet travel requirements for their intended destination, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation
- Cannot hold more than one Globalink Research Award per academic lifetime
- Cannot have previously held a Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program award
Supervising professors
- Must hold a faculty position at an eligible institution
- Must be eligible to supervise graduate students
- Supervisors at Canadian institutions: Must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding
- Supervisors outside of Canadian institutions: Must be affiliated to an eligible partner
How to Apply
Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’ international partners and are subject to available funding.
Application process:
- Review general and Mitacs international partner-specific eligibility and award guidelines.
- Reach out to the local Mitacs advisor at the Canadian university to confirm the project eligibility and discuss next steps. They will then share the link to the application portal.
- Identify all the project applicants (intern, professors) as Mitacs cannot connect interested interns with supervisors.
- Start the application on the application portal by identifying the Mitacs international partner. All participants must create their profile online and fill in their personal information.
- Complete the application: Additional information will be provided in the application portal.
- Note: Please make sure to select ‘Globalink Research Award: Thematic Call’ as the funding model under ‘Internship Budget and Schedule’.
- Send the research proposal to the local Mitacs Advisor for pre-submission review.
- Once the application is complete, each participant needs to sign-off it on the portal.
- The Office of Research Services (ORS) or designated signature will be required on all completed applications. The local Mitacs advisors will support the applicants to obtain the university This usually takes between 1 to 3 weeks.
- The Mitacs local advisor submits the application.
Program Administration
Use of funds
Mitacs funds may be used to support the direct costs of research as specified in the Tri-Agency’s Financial Administration guidelines and in accordance with your academic institution’s guidelines for research expenses. Innovation projects in the Business Strategy Internship program are eligible to include direct project costs in accordance with the same guidelines. Please direct any questions about eligible expenses for Mitacs projects first to your academic institution and second to your Mitacs Advisor or grant management contact.
Additional eligible expenses (for both research and innovation projects) include:
- In accordance with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (specifically Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada) recognizing the importance of respecting the culture and traditions of Indigenous peoples and acknowledging the necessity to incur expenditures in that regard in the conduct of research, the following expenditures are eligible:
- costs related to community mobilization and engagement, including culturally relevant promotional items such as tobacco, cloth, feasting and gift-giving for honouring ceremonies, and cash reimbursements (in a method acceptable to the individual or community being reimbursed) to compensate community participation;
- honoraria for Indigenous Elders and community experts;
- contracts and/or consultant fees for knowledge translation and communication activities for Indigenous Elders, community members and other Indigenous knowledge-holders involved in activities related to the Indigenous community;
- a salary research allowance to help cover the costs to temporarily replace co-applicants from eligible Indigenous not-for-profit organizations to release them from their duties to the organization.
- In accordance with NSERC guidelines for Research Partnerships Programs Project Management Expenses, and other funding agencies, direct project management expenses may be included in the research costs portion of the grant. The maximum amount that may be allocated to project management costs is 10% of the value of the standard cash contribution of the partner organization to the grant, prior to any discounts. (i.e., for a standard Accelerate internship, the partner contribution is $7,500, so 10% or $750 would be available for direct project management expenses.) Please contact your local Mitacs Advisor for more information.
- Mitacs does not claim any ownership of intellectual property developed through research projects and internships that are funded
- It is recommended that the participating organizations and institutions undertaking a research collaboration through Mitacs-funded projects come to a mutual understanding on the intellectual property implications of the project(s)
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award is competitive, with limited awards available. All applications will undergo a review process by an interdisciplinary team. Proposals will be adjudicated based on the following criteria:
- Quality of the research proposal
- Benefits to industry, society, and Canada
- Opportunities and benefits to the intern(s)
After applications are reviewed, Outcome Letters are expected to be issued by April 2025 and will provide the outcome of the review process and outline next steps. Travel can therefore start in May 2025 once the Outcome and Award Letters are provided by Mitacs.
Responsibilities
All parties involved with the Mitacs Globalink program must comply with Mitacs’ Research Ethics Policy and other research integrity policies at the home and host institutions.
All parties involved with Mitacs programs should review the following policy statement and guidelines provided by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Government of Canada: