Student start-ups now eligible for national research funding

Toronto, ON — Student-founded companies supported by business incubators at universities can now receive funding for collaborative projects with university researchers. The pilot initiative — announced today in partnership with the University of Toronto’s Innovations and Partnerships Office — will see student start-up companies collaborate with university researchers to solve business challenges, and to develop new products, services, or technologies.

Over a dozen university-based business incubators across the country are expected to participate in the pilot, representing hundreds of potential research-based collaborations. University-based business incubators are invited to apply to participate in the initiative.

Start-up companies supported by the following incubators are eligible to take part in the pilot immediately:

• Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques (ACET), Université de Sherbrooke
• The Centre for Digital Media; Emily Carr University, University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University
• The Digital Media Zone, Ryerson University
• District 3, Concordia University
• Centech, École de Technologie Supérieure
• e@UBC, University of British Columbia
• University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
• LaunchPad, Dalhousie University

Quotes:

Josette-Renée Landry; Vice-President, Business Development; Mitacs

“This pilot will support university-based entrepreneurs, which in turn, will have positive impacts on our economy and our society. The University of Toronto has been a key partner in the development of this initiative — and we are grateful for its support and leadership.”

Derek Newton; Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship; University of Toronto

“This pilot initiative is supporting the entrepreneurial aspirations of our students by providing them with funding to support an on-the-job experience in their own start-up company. It’s a great opportunity to support the growth of some of Canada’s newest companies — and their entrepreneurs — as they take their first steps.”

Quick facts about Mitacs:

• Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 17 years in order to support industrial and social innovation in Canada.
• Mitacs’ research internship programs connect graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with industry and not-for-profit partners for collaborations supervised by faculty.
• Mitacs acknowledges the Government of Canada, along with Alberta Innovates, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Quebec, and the Government of Saskatchewan for their support.

Links:

• For details about Mitacs and our programs, visit mitacs.ca/newsroom.
• To contact your local Mitacs business development representative, visit mitacs.ca/contact-us/business-development.
• To learn more about the University of Toronto’s Impact Centre, see impactcentre.ca.

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