Alberta expands partnership with Mitacs, creates more hands-on learning opportunities for students

Edmonton, AB — Alberta is helping students gain world-class research skills and driving innovation by supporting more than 3,800 new Mitacs internships.

In partnership with Mitacs, post-secondary institutions and employers, Alberta’s government is growing internship opportunities to build hands-on learning opportunities for students, researchers, and industry partners.

Alberta has supported internships through the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program for several years, which attracts top international undergraduate students to the province. Alberta will now expand its support to other Mitacs programs to add about 1,275 new internship opportunities annually, through an additional $5 million investment each year over the next three years.

The expanded partnership with Mitacs enables Alberta to align internship opportunities with priority sectors identified in Alberta’s Recovery Plan, while also leverage matching investments from federal and private industry funding partners.

Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a bold, ambitious long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs now. By building schools, roads, and other core infrastructure the province benefits its communities. By diversifying its economy and attracting investment with Canada’s most competitive tax environment, Alberta is on a path for a generation of growth.

Quotes:

The Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education

“Hands-on learning is critical to helping students get the skills and training they need, and to prepare them for success in their careers. This partnership supports Alberta’s Recovery Plan, and helps ensure our province has the talent and ability to get Albertans back to work, meet labour market demands, and give students important experience needed for their future.”

The Honourable Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation

“Giving Albertans the skills and hands-on opportunities to put their education to use is going to be a critical component of our economic future. It will pair job creators with their future employees and turn ideas into careers and bring new innovations to our business world that much faster.”

John Hepburn, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Mitacs

“This funding will help Alberta businesses solve their innovation challenges by connecting them to top post-secondary talent so they can expand their companies, create jobs, and grow the provincial economy. At the same time, these opportunities provide Alberta students with invaluable practical skills, applied research experience, and business contacts that will help them get jobs.”

Cory Janssen and Nicole Janssen, Co-founders, AltaML

“In equipping students with essential industry experience, internships serve as a bridge between academia and the wider world. There is a learning curve for new grads, and Mitacs programs allow innovation-based companies like AltaML to invest time and resources in mentorship. Business and communities also benefit by keeping top talent right here in Alberta. The net result is that internships help drive innovation which is crucial in the new data-driven economy.”

Frincy Clement, Mitacs intern, AltaML and student, University of Alberta

“My Mitacs internship at AltaML provided me with hands-on experience in developing artificial intelligence solutions for real-world industry problems, and has widened my perspectives on business expectations for delivering solutions. The business contacts and mentors that I’ve acquired are invaluable for my future and I feel well equipped for a new career in the tech sector. I am grateful to the Government of Alberta and AltaML for enabling me to develop my skills and talents through a Mitacs internship.”

Quick facts:

• Mitacs has a proven track record in supporting research and innovation, a broad network of partners, and an ability to leverage federal and industry funding in providing high-quality innovation internships.
• About 1,275 internship opportunities will be supported each year through six internship streams:
  • Accelerate – Interns work on a peer-reviewed research project to address business challenges faced by industry partners
  • Accelerate Entrepreneur – Student entrepreneurs develop research or technology at the core of their businesses supported by incubators
  • Accelerate International – Interns participate in global research collaborations
  • Elevate – Postdoctoral fellows tackle sophisticated research challenges
  • Business Strategy Internship – Interns support businesses with restoring or modifying their operations to adapt to the current business environment
  • Accelerate Assessment– Interns assess host organizations’ technology needs and help identify paths forward, such as adopting new technologies
• Internship opportunities will be targeted to the key economic sectors identified in Alberta’s Recovery Plan:
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Aviation, aerospace, and logistics
  • Culture and creative industries
  • Energy
  • Financial services and fintech
  • Technology and innovation
  • Tourism
• Not only do internships benefit students, they contribute to economic productivity, and help industry partners achieve their innovation potential, respond to current business challenges, and grow their competitive advantage.
• The province’s $15 million investment over three years is expected to leverage matching investments of almost $22 million in federal funding, and $27 million in funding from participating organizations.

About Mitacs:

• Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving challenges with research solutions from academic institutions.
• Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, along with the other provincial and territorial governments.
• For information about Mitacs and its programs, see mitacs.ca/newsroom.

###