mitacs accelerate canada’s graduate research internship program

MITACS ACCELERATECanada’s Graduate Research Internship Program

Alexandra ReidMay 21st, 2009

What is MITACS ACCELERATE?

• Innovative ‘made-in-Canada’ program • Links university faculty and grad students/PDFs from any department or discipline with Canadian companies • Focus on short-term, flexible research projects

• Internships are funded 50/50 with both company and MITACS contributing $7.5K

• Company/organization identifies research problem• Student spends half of time on site with company• Remaining time spent at home university under the

supervision of professor• $15K is provided to professor as a research grant

• $10K given to student as stipend• $5K covers additional costs associated with project

How does it work?

• No application deadlines; proposals are accepted at any time

• Foreign students are eligible• Quick turnaround time on reviews (4-6 weeks)• Proposals are peer-reviewed at arms length

**A pre-approved internship proposal can be used to

draw interest from potential grad students**

How does it work?

How MITACS ACCELERATE works

identify research opportunities

access research expertise

collaborative researchCANADIAN INDUSTRY

CANADIAN UNIVERSITY

• Research projects are company driven• Leverages existing R&D budgets• HR recruitment tool; connecting you with potential

employees• Facilitates new relationships with university-based

researchers • No application deadlines; proposals accepted any time

Program advantages for industry

• Opportunity to apply graduate research to real-world industry challenges

• Enhance future employment opportunities• Develop valuable, professional relationships with

industry and other non-academic organizations

And for students…

Finding a partner

• Partner organizations should be for-profit companies

• Limited opportunities with other organizations, including hospitals, government labs and agencies

• Existing collaborations – speak to the Office of Research Services at U Windsor

• Environmental scan – find a company that matches up with your research interests

Why MITACS? Great connectors.

Entrepreneurial Front-line staff

across country Bilingual Nimble Results-oriented Innovative

What is the application process?

1. Speak to us first – we will assist you with the application!2. Informal review of draft proposal3. Official submission• Short research proposal• Student CV• Memorandum (signatures)4. Adjudication• Is this a research project at the graduate level?• Is there a potential for on-going research and collaboration?

• Application process – simple and straightforward• Vast majority of applications are approved• Extremely flexible – many ways to use program• No limit on number of internships per supervisor/lab• Amount of internships/student: 2 for Masters, 4 for

PhD, 6 for Postdocs• ‘Toe in the water’ for both PI’s and industry

What is the application process?

Scenario #1 – Typical not-for-profit internship

• Not-for-Profit partner (i.e. hospital, NGO, agency) provides the $7.5K and MITACS matches it.

• The intern spends 50% time at partner site and 50% time at U Windsor.

• No industry interaction.• Availability = LIMITED (First come, first serve)

Does reducing postural variability lead to an increase in the prevalence of work-related injuries in lean automotive assembly?

This study will hopefully find if the prolonged static postures observed in lean manufacturing are contributing to the increase in work related musculoskeletal injuries. This will benefit Pinnacle Rehabilitation by allowing the ergonomists to have valuable information which promotes either dynamic postures or sustained neutral postures throughout the day.

• University: University of Windsor• Discipline: Kinesiology• Partner: Pinnacle Rehabilitation

Scenario #2 – Typical for-profit internship

• A company provides the $7.5K and MITACS matches it.

• The intern spends 50% at the company and 50% time at U Windsor.

• Significant industry interaction• Availability = UNLIMITED

Warehouse and Distribution Network Optimization

The project is aimed at the development of mathematical models and algorithms to optimize the supply chain network configuration for Dainty Foods, a food processing, packaging and storage company. The partner wants to optimize their current supply chain network through the management of their internal warehouse space and how it relates to external warehousing and cross-docking.

• University: University of Windsor• Discipline: Engineering• Partner: Dainty Foods

Scenario #3 – Not-for-profit contribution with industry connection

• Not-for-profit sponsor provides the $7.5K and MITACS matches it.

• The intern spends at least 25-50% with an industry partner(s), some interaction with NFP sponsor and remainder at U Windsor

• Moderate industry interaction• Availability = UNLIMITED

Green Technology – the Role the Municipal Government Can Play

The research project being undertaken focuses on determining the key opportunities for the green technology industry in Vancouver at the municipal level. How can municipal standards, procurement, and government programs be leveraged to provide opportunities for local companies to demonstrate and deploy their solutions?

• University: University of British Columbia

• Discipline: Business Admin• Partner: Vancouver Economic

Development Commission

For more information …

Alexandra ReidDirector, Business Development

areid@mitacs.ca519.504.8982

www.mitacsaccelerate.ca