Research Manitoba and Mitacs announce funding to support innovation, job creation, and skills development

Winnipeg, MB — Today, Research Manitoba announced $1.4 million of funding to support research internships between researchers and local companies or not-for-profits.

Mitacs connects companies and not-for-profit organizations with local experts in the academic community to address their research and development challenges. These collaborations promote innovation in Manitoba. The Mitacs Accelerate program supports significant skills development, job creation, and retention of highly qualified personnel, as revealed in a 2014 longitudinal survey.

The three-year funding agreement will bring hundreds of research and training opportunities to Manitoba students, postdocs, and faculty members through three Mitacs programs:

• Mitacs Accelerate pairs graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with businesses and not-for-profit organizations to undertake research projects of mutual interest.
• Mitacs Elevate provides customized research management training for postdoctoral fellows as they undertake two-year research projects with partner organizations.
• Mitacs Globalink offers two-way mobility initiatives between universities and undergraduate students from around the world to build and strengthen international research networks.

Quotes:

Alejandro Adem, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Mitacs
“Facilitating innovation and research excellence is the key to a vibrant economy in Manitoba. Mitacs is grateful for Research Manitoba’s investment in our programs and we look forward to working with local industry and academia to build the province’s next generation of innovators.”

Christina Weise, Chief Executive Officer, Research Manitoba

“Investing in excellence is at the core of our activities, which is why we are very pleased to support Mitacs. Their programs are vital for cultivating Manitoba’s competitiveness by advancing the careers of students and building capacity in our province.”

Sean McKay, President and CEO, Composites Innovation Centre (CIC)

“Mitacs has been a strong partner for the CIC to enable effective engagement with university graduates and their supervisors to conduct leading edge research; with this new funding in place, it will further enhance our ability to create university partnerships to advance technologies for our industry clients.”

Mohsen Akbarzadeh, Mitacs Elevate fellow in the Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba with Myera Group Inc.
“Mitacs Elevate gives me opportunities to develop my management abilities and other professional skills that will not only help me to be more successful in research, but also help my career.”                                                                                                                                            

Quick facts:

• Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization that develops the next generation of innovators with vital professional skills through unique research and training programs. In partnership with companies, not-for-profit organizations, government, and universities, Mitacs is supporting a new economy using Canada’s most valuable resource — its people.
• Research Manitoba provides funds for research in the health, natural and social sciences, engineering, and the humanities in Manitoba through a number of grants and awards programs from funds received from the Province through the Department of Jobs and the Economy.

Links:

For more information about Mitacs and our programs, visit www.mitacs.ca/newsroom.

To learn about Research Manitoba, see http://researchmanitoba.ca/.

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Photo (left to right): Alejando Adem, Mitacs; Abed Sulieman, Univeristy of Manitoba; Christina Weise, Research Manitoba; Sean McKay, Composites Innovation Centre.