Making Waves and Building Homes: The Impact of Mitacs in Atlantic Canada

Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization, drives innovation across Atlantic Canada through strategic collaborations. With a network of over 197 postsecondary institutions across the country and more than 25 years of experience, Mitacs employs a collaborative approach to research and innovation, matching need with expertise to develop ambitious solutions to real-world challenges. By attracting and deploying top talent to industry, Mitacs enables businesses to achieve their goals and embrace innovation – making the future a little bit brighter for all Canadians. These efforts are generously supported by the Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and PEI and the Government of Canada.

Founded in 1999, Mitacs has expanded far beyond its origins in mathematics. Today, the organization supports a wide range of disciplines, from technological innovation to social innovation. It has also broadened its talent pipeline to include college, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, and expanded its impressive network of academic institutions, municipalities, hospitals, businesses, and not-for-profit organisations in all sectors. Mitacs drives productivity by facilitating collaborations that harness the potential of top talent from post-secondary institutions across the country. Through strategic partnerships, Mitacs helps businesses leverage this talent pool, creating job opportunities for students and recent graduates.

“Mitacs serves as a critical link between academia, government, and the public and private sectors,” explains Mitacs’s CEO, Dr. John Hepburn. “Through strategic partnerships, our programs provide invaluable work experience for students and recent graduates while supplying skilled talent to industry partners.”

Mitacs is an integral part of Canada’s innovation ecosystem and in Atlantic Canada, Mitacs plays a particularly vital role in driving innovation. Through unique partnerships with academic institutions, businesses, and government agencies, Mitacs supports projects that address challenges and opportunities specific to Atlantic Canada’s economic and social landscape. By engaging the region’s diverse talent and resources, Mitacs boosts innovation, job creation, and talent retention, and contributes to the growth and prosperity of the entire Atlantic region while enhancing Canada’s global competitiveness in key industries.

“Thanks to the significant and ongoing investments of our Atlantic government partners, we are able to expand our reach, support more projects, and ultimately make a greater impact on the region,” acknowledges Hepburn.

Seas of talent unlock solutions in ocean tech

An ongoing study of the Halifax Harbour’s aquatic ecosystems exemplifies the advantages of partnering with Mitacs. Led by the Halifax Port Authority, this collaborative effort brings together experts to understand how the operations of this bustling international port impact local marine life. Welcoming various cargo, cruise, and naval ships, this harbourfront – one of the longest in North America – is home to various watersport attractions, oceanside restaurants, as well as the famous Busker Festival.

The project’s primary objective is to enhance the understanding of local ecosystems potentially affected by port operations and to delineate the port’s zones of influence. Through this research, it seeks to establish crucial benchmarks for aquatic ecosystem health, diversity, vulnerability, resilience, and fecundity within the Halifax Harbour. Ultimately, findings from this study will aid the Halifax Port Authority in devising strategies to mitigate potential impacts from the marine transportation sector, ensuring the sustainability and conservation of the harbor’s marine environment.

“The Halifax Port Authority has had the opportunity to work with Abby Christopher, a master’s student in Marine Management from Dalhousie University. This collaboration, made possible through the support of Mitacs, has allowed us to gain rich expertise and insights regarding aquatic ecosystems in the Halifax Harbour while simultaneously advancing our commitments to sustainability,” expresses the Halifax Port Authority’s manager of sustainability, Blair Crawford.

Research efforts are now well underway, with initial findings set to contribute to a comprehensive literature review. This review will deepen the Halifax Port Authority’s understanding of its harbour and guide the future phases of the project, ultimately safeguarding the long-term health and preservation of this vital marine environment.

Strong foundations through strategic collaboration

With the nationwide housing crisis continuing to challenge the country, Osprey Inspiration, supported in part by Mitacs, is seeking to empower individuals in Atlantic Canada to transition from renting to owning. By providing financial literacy education and resources, along with tailored and continued support programs, this initiative seeks to dismantle barriers to homeownership in everchanging economies and enhance housing stability in Nova Scotian communities currently experiencing unprecedented pressures.

This innovative approach not only addresses the immediate need for affordable housing but also fosters collaboration between buyers and builders. Instead of builders producing properties based on predicted demand, buyers are involved as early as the initial planning stages to develop housing plans that fit the scope of their needs and their budgets. This collaboration increases affordability and reduces market time, ensuring that homes meet the needs of the community while also easing pressure on the local rental market.

“As a newly established non-profit, Mitacs has been instrumental in launching Osprey Inspiration in the right direction. It has connected us with highly esteemed professionals who share our passion for housing solutions and social entrepreneurship, providing us with extensive insights into the socio-economic housing space and knowledge about which materials are most beneficial for the demographic we serve,” concludes Derrick Chan, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Osprey Inspiration.

About Mitacs

Mitacs works to bring innovation to more people in more places across Canada and around the world. Mitacs makes investing in new knowledge easier through access to top researchers, flexible project plans, and co-investments in talent.

A not-for-profit organization, 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, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.