Innovate BC-Mitacs partnership drives business solutions for COVID-19

Vancouver, BC — In order to fast-track solutions to COVID-19 and mitigate its adverse economic impacts, Mitacs and Innovate BC are partnering to support business in the province of British Columbia.

Innovate BC is investing $375,000 towards 100 Mitacs internships for COVID-19-specific projects. The funding infusion from Innovate BC coupled with Mitacs’s leveraged funds offsets the standard company-partner contribution towards the intern’s stipend and increases access to research during this pandemic.

This funding will be distributed through the Mitacs Accelerate program and will provide eligible projects with $15,000 in total funding to support the intern’s stipend.

To be eligible for Innovate BC funding, companies must:

• Be British Columbia-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Have projects approved by Mitacs through the Accelerate program
• Hire a graduate student for a technology-based, research internship

The goal of this partnership is to continue to drive research and innovation by covering the costs of a research collaboration between industry and academia to support SMEs through this pandemic and its economic aftermath.

The collaboration is another example of how both Mitacs and Innovate BC are leveraging strategic partnerships across the country to support COVID-19 relief efforts. Over the last month, Mitacs has announced collaborations with national organizations such as NSERC and AGE-WELL, while Innovate BC continues to provide direct support to the local tech sector through its programs and network of accelerator partners across the province.

To learn more about the business opportunity, please connect with your local Mitacs Business Development representative: www.mitacs.ca/en/contact-us/business-development

Quotes:

Michelle Mungall, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, British Columbia

“This new partnership is the kind of creative approach BC needs to revitalize the economy. Not only does it help with COVID-19 relief efforts, but it also supports businesses and provides students with hands on training for jobs in BC’s growing tech sector.”

Raghwa Gopal, Innovate BC President and CEO

“As we navigate our way through this pandemic, initiatives that directly benefit industry and academia are vital to supporting our provincial tech sector. This partnership with Mitacs will help companies access high-quality talent at a reduced rate, while making it easier for students to get on-the-job experience and immediately contribute to one of the province’s fastest growing industries. Simply put, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

John Hepburn, Mitacs CEO and Scientific Director

“Mitacs is delighted to partner with Innovate BC to advance and accelerate innovation in the Province of British Columbia. By deploying researchers to work with businesses and organizations across BC, and supporting our provincial economy with this talent resource, together we will develop solutions to COVID-19 and mitigate its adverse economic impacts.”

Links:

For more information about Innovate BC, including:

• Funding opportunities
• Program information
• Latest news
• The New Ventures Competition, presented by Innovate BC

For Mitacs news, including the following COVID-19-related releases:

• Mitacs and Kids Brain Health Network partner to support children with disabilities during COVID-19
• Suncor, Western University, and Mitacs partner to quickly develop better COVID-19 testing
• ENCQOR 5G and Mitacs join forces to support Quebec SMEs and 5G innovation to tackle COVID-19 pandemic challenges
• Thanks to $40M from Government of Canada, Mitacs proudly supports post-secondary students during COVID-19
• Getting research talent to companies faster: new industrial postdoctoral funding to address COVID-19
• Mitacs and AGE-WELL collaborate to fund innovation supporting seniors during COVID-19
• College interns primed to accelerate Mitacs COVID-19 research projects
• Mitacs links companies, organizations, networks, researchers for COVID-19 solutions

Quick facts about Innovate BC:

Innovate BC connects innovators — large and small — with funding, resources and support. Innovate BC programs and initiatives serve and celebrate innovation in British Columbia, helping our industries grow, while ensuring the benefits of our thriving technology sector are felt by people in all regions of our province. Innovate BC is a Crown Agency of the Province of B.C.

Quick facts about Mitacs:

Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving business and not-for-profit challenges with research solutions from academic institutions. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, and the Government of Saskatchewan.

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Media contacts:

Mitacs

ErinRose Handy
Manager, Communications
604-822-4476 | ehandy@mitacs.ca

Innovate BC

Jamil A. Karim
Manager, Marketing + Communications
604-317-5786 | jkarim@innovatebc.ca