How Mitacs Accelerate International Funding Works for Students and Postdocs

Canadian students and postdoctoral fellows often seek hands-on research experience with industry partners outside Canada. Funding an international project can be challenging, especially when balancing academic and partner needs. Mitacs Accelerate International funding supports these efforts by enabling structured, paid research collaborations between Canadian academia, partner organizations, and international hosts.

What Is Mitacs Accelerate International?

Mitacs Accelerate International is a national program run by Mitacs, an independent Canadian not-for-profit organization. It funds bilateral research projects that connect Canadian students or postdocs with partner organizations and academic supervisors in Canada and abroad.

Who the Program Is For

The program supports:

Graduate students (Master’s and PhD)
Postdoctoral fellows
Canadian academic supervisors
Partner organizations in Canada and internationally, including businesses and eligible nonprofits

Students and postdocs complete research projects that meet a partner’s real-world needs while fulfilling academic goals.

Project Structure

Projects are built around research units with defined timelines:

Each unit represents a fixed research period with clear milestones
Projects can include multiple units, depending on scope and duration
Work is supervised jointly by an academic supervisor and a partner organization

This flexible structure lets projects scale up or down without rewriting the entire agreement.

Funding Model

Mitacs Accelerate International uses a cost-shared funding model:

Funding comes from Mitacs and mandatory partner contributions
The partner organization must provide a minimum contribution, which starts at $7,500 per four-month research unit
The final amount depends on the project scope, number of research units, and partnership structure
Funds typically support stipends or salaries for students and postdocs, not business operating costs

Mitacs decides funding case by case. The amount is not fixed.

International Collaboration

What sets this stream apart from domestic Accelerate projects is the international partnership:

The research must involve a Canadian and international academic or partner context
Students or postdocs may work with or be hosted by an international partner
Projects focus on knowledge transfer and applied research across borders

This makes the program especially useful for organizations aiming to build research capacity and share expertise internationally.

If you want to quickly see which Mitacs and other research programs fit your profile, GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help filter options by applicant type and partnership model.

Eligibility and Requirements

To qualify for Mitacs Accelerate International, projects must include:

A Canadian academic supervisor affiliated with an eligible institution
A student or postdoctoral fellow registered at a Canadian university
A partner organization (business or eligible nonprofit) in Canada or abroad

Partner organizations must be able to contribute funding and provide a meaningful research environment. Students and postdocs must be able to commit the time required for the research unit(s). International partners must meet Mitacs’ eligibility rules.

How to Apply

The application process is usually led by the academic supervisor, with input from the student or postdoc and the partner organization.

Steps to apply:

Project development – Define research objectives, roles, and timelines
Partner commitment – Confirm partner participation and funding contribution
Submission to Mitacs – Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Mitacs review – Proposals are assessed for research quality, training value, and partner fit

There are no fixed annual deadlines, but approval timelines depend on how complete and clear the application is.

Tips for Success

Clarify partner roles
Clearly describe how the partner will contribute to the research and support the student or postdoc.
Plan for international logistics early
Address visas, hosting arrangements, and institutional approvals during project planning.
Budget carefully
Remember that funding is not fixed. Align your project’s scope with the number of research units and ensure the partner’s required contribution is included.
Focus on research, not just travel
The program funds research collaborations, not simple exchanges or travel grants.

How Accelerate International Compares to Other Mitacs Programs

Mitacs offers several Accelerate streams. A common comparison is with Accelerate Fellowship.

Accelerate International vs. Accelerate Fellowship

Accelerate International: Supports international research collaborations involving Canadian and foreign partners.
Accelerate Fellowship: Designed for longer-term placements with Canadian industry partners, usually without an international requirement.

Both programs support students and postdocs across many disciplines, but only Accelerate International requires international collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who applies for Mitacs Accelerate International funding?
The academic supervisor typically submits the application, with the student or postdoc and partner organization included in the project.

Q: Is Mitacs Accelerate International funding taxable?
Tax treatment depends on how the funds are paid (stipend, salary, or grant). Students and postdocs should check with their institution or a tax advisor.

Q: Do businesses have to contribute funding?
Yes. Projects require mandatory partner contributions alongside Mitacs funding. The minimum is $7,500 per research unit, but amounts can vary by project.

Q: How long do projects last?
Projects are built in research units with defined durations. Multiple units can be combined for longer projects.

Q: Can nonprofits or international organizations participate?
Eligible nonprofits and international organizations can participate as partners if they meet Mitacs’ criteria.

If you’re exploring research funding, GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada. Find the ones that match your student, postdoc, or partner profile.

Next Steps

If you’re a student, postdoc, or partner organization considering Mitacs Accelerate International funding, start by confirming your eligibility and project fit. Review Mitacs guidelines, discuss with your academic supervisor, and connect with potential partners. GrantHub can help you compare Mitacs streams and other research funding so you focus on programs that match your goals.

How Mitacs Accelerate International Funding Works for Students and Postdocs