Mitacs formalizes new research partnership with India as part of Prime Minister’s state visit

Vancouver, BC — During Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s state visit to India this week, Mitacs announced a new partnership with India’s Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) to expand research opportunities for Canadian and Indian graduate students with academic institutions and industry partners in each country.

Through the three-year partnership, more than 200 graduate students will refine their research skills in new environments, gain cultural fluency, and expand their professional networks during 12- to 24-week research internships. Since 2009, Mitacs’ international research internship program has provided more than 1,200 students from India with hands-on research experience at Canadian universities.

The agreement was signed by Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director of Mitacs, and Rajiv Sharma, Secretary of the Science and Engineering Research Board.

During the event, Mitacs also announced focused partnerships with four Canadian post-secondary institutions: Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo (Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology). The three-year agreement will support up to 140 senior undergraduate and graduate research exchanges between the universities and select Indian Institutes of Technology in a variety of fields including clean energy, smart cities, and nanotechnology.

Quotes:

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Government of Canada
“Collaborations between researchers and businesses are a key building block for innovation. The partnership announced today is exemplary of the Government of Canada’s efforts to drive innovation forward and encourage our students to acquire the skills they need to join a strong, vibrant middle class.”

Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs

“Mitacs has a long history with India — the country was an early supporter of our international research internship program nine years ago. Today’s partnership deepens this relationship, and represents a shared commitment between Canada and India to continue to offer university students with high-quality research opportunities that will foster shared experiences and expand their networks globally.”

Quick facts:

• Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization led by Canadian universities that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for more than 18 years.
• Working with 60 universities, thousands of companies, and federal and provincial governments, Mitacs builds partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada.
• The Government of Canada, along with the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Quebec, and the Government of Saskatchewan invest in Mitacs Globalink research.

Links:

• For information about Mitacs and our programs, see mitacs.ca/newsroom
• Impact story: International intern’s star simulations shoot for success
• Impact story: Postcard from India: University of Waterloo student’s nanocomposite both detects and scavenges mercury in contaminated water

###

Photo: Rajiv Sharma, Secretary of the Science and Engineering Research Board, and Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director of Mitacs.