Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) Program

Sponsor

Mitacs

Program

Globalink Research Award (GRA) 

For More Information

For full program details, please visit the Mitacs GRA program web-page.

For more information on research security, please visit the websites below:

• Mitacs Research Security
• UofG Safeguarding Research
  • U of G Guide to Mitacs Research Security Requirements

Description

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) program supports research collaborations between Canada and eligible countries and regions through intern(s) international mobility.

Under the joint supervision of a home and host professor, successful senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows will receive a $6,000 research award to conduct a 12 to 24 week research project in the other country. 

The program is offered through two streams:

1. Allocation stream: Participating Canadian universities receive a set number of internship units per year. The University of Guelph has 10 IUs allocated for FY 2025/2026, which will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please see details under 'How to Apply' on how to secure IU's under this allocation stream.
2. Quantum stream: Open to all Canadian universities. The project must be in the quantum sector (includes but not limited to: Quantum computation (hardware), algorithms, and software – Quantum communication, networks, and cryptography – Quantum metrology, sensing, imaging, and materials). No limit of projects per Canadian university and does not count in the university’s allocation.

Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’ Canadian academic partners (and, in some cases, with Mitacs’ international partners) and are subject to available funding.  

Program Overview

1. Applicants (student or postdoctoral fellow, home and host supervisors) submit application to partner organization or to Mitacs.
2. Within 12 weeks of submission, Mitacs will contact participants about the outcome of the application. Travel must take place within a year from the date of the outcome.
3. The intern provides the completed Mitacs Code of Conduct and Ethics and International Pre-Departure forms.
4. Mitacs forwards the Globalink Research Award funds to the Canadian institution. In some cases, interns may receive a portion of the funds from Mitacs’s partner organization.
5. The intern departs to the destination and begins the research project.
6. Upon project completion, the intern submits a final report that summarizes the project.
7. All participants (student or postdoctoral fellow, home and host supervisors) submit a final survey. 

Eligibility

Intern

• Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian institution or eligible international institution and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award.
• Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a PhD program is no more than five years prior to the proposed start date of the research project and they have postdoctoral status at an eligible institution.
• Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree.
• Cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship.
• Permanent residents or citizens of Canada who are enrolled in an eligible country other than Canada and who wish to do a project in Canada are eligible to apply.
• Permanent residents or citizens of Canada who are enrolled in a Canadian institution and who hold citizenship in an eligible country may apply to do a project there.
• Must be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years of age or older).
• Must meet travel requirements for their intended destination, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation.
• Cannot hold more than two Globalink Research Awards per academic lifetime.
• Cannot hold more than two Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program Awards per academic lifetime. 

Supervising Professors

• Must hold a faculty position at an eligible institution.
• Must be eligible to supervise graduate students.
• Supervisors at Canadian institutions must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding.

Country Eligibility

• The program supports research and travel to academic institutions between Canada and most countries (allocation and quantum stream). Outbound mobility is possible between Canada and all countries except those classified as “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid non-essential travel” by the Government of Canada. For inbound mobility, all countries are eligible except for Russia and North Korea.
• Please note that this list is subject to change at any time and participants are required to check the status at the time of application and prior to travel. Additionally, participants must adhere to any regional “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid non-essential” travel advisories.

Funding Availability

The University of Guelph has been allocated 10 IUs, which will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Maximum Project Value

Each intern will receive $6,000 per internship unit (IU):

• $6,000 research award to conduct one 12- to 24-week research project in the other country. This is one internship unit (IU).
• $12,000 research award to conduct one 24- to 48-week research project or two 12- to 24-week research projects in the other country. This is two internship units (IUs).

Indirect Costs

0%.

Project Duration

One 12 to 48-week project or two 12 to 24-week projects.

Special Notes

Mitacs Award Guidelines

Intern responsibilities: 

• Make all necessary preparations for travel abroad with the appropriate institution office(s)
• Obtain appropriate visa, work permit or other immigration documentation required for the destination
• Attend any mandatory sessions as required by the home institution
• Work full-time on the research project (at least 75% abroad, and up to 25% at the home institution)
• Submit an exit survey to Mitacs at the end of the project

Home supervisor responsibilities: 

• Adhere to institutional policies for research abroad
• Provide ongoing direction and research support to the participant prior to and during the research project
• Submit an exit survey

Host supervisor responsibilities: 

• Adhere to institutional policies for visiting researchers
• Provide ongoing direction and research support to the intern prior to and during the research project
• Advise the intern on appropriate travel arrangements and accommodation
• Provide the intern with any necessary documentation to support the visa application
• Ensure the intern has appropriate lab and/or office space and resources during the research project
• Submit an exit survey

In addition to the above, the Canadian supervisors and institutions – whether home or host – have additional responsibilities, specifically: 

• Support interns with the necessary preparations for travel abroad (institutional travel policy, immigration application support)
• Assume fiduciary responsibility for the Mitacs grant

How to Apply

To access the University of Guelph's 2025/26 GRA IUs, the lead supervisor at the University of Guelph must follow the below steps: 

• Please note the application process may vary depending on the international partner. Please consult with Mitacs to determine if your project fits the funding requirements for your institution or an international partner and to request an application package.
• Please first connect with Guelph’s Mitacs Advisor, Fatemeh Bakhtiari (fbakhtiari@mitacs.ca) to discuss your potential project. Mitacs will pre-review the proposed project, international partner, and intern, to assess and confirm eligibility. Your GRA project will then be ear-marked for the appropriate number of IU’s.
• Following meeting the above criteria, the lead supervisor at the University of Guelph will initiate an application in Mitacs’ portal, which, once completed, will be pre-reviewed by Mitacs. Once this pre-review is complete, the lead researcher/supervisor must submit a PDF of the application (includes sign-off/approval by the lead researcher, intern and international partner, along with a signed OR-5 to the Research Services Office at research.services@uoguelph.ca.
• While IUs are ear-marked once Mitacs has initially reviewed the proposed project, the IUs are not guaranteed until a completed application is received and approved for final submission by the Research Services Office.

Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’ academic partners (and in some cases with Mitacs’ international partners) and are subject to available funding. 

Application Process 

1. Review all eligibility and award guidelines from Mitacs and the Canadian institution.
2. Participants connect with one another to discuss project interests. Please note that Mitacs does not connect interested interns and academic supervisors.
3. Academic supervisors at Canadian institutions obtain endorsement from the Canadian institution before preparing the application. Please contact Fatemeh Bakhtiari (fbakhtiari@mitacs.ca) for more information on the rules and process at the University of Guelph.
4. Complete the application. In addition to completing all the fields in the portal, applicants will be required to submit a research proposal and a Mitacs Pre-Departure form. Additional information will be provided in the application portal.
5. All supervisors and intern(s) must log in and fill in their personal information. There is a research security question that is visible only to each participant. All participants must log in and respond themselves.
6. When the portal application is complete, all participants must log in again and sign-off on the project.
7. Obtain the Canadian university signature.
8. Projects that are being proposed though the Allocation stream must be counted towards the Canadian institution allocation of internship units. The Vice President Research (VPR) or designate signature is required.
9. Projects that are being proposed through the Quantum stream do not count in the Canadian institution allocation and are open to all Canadian universities. The Vice President Research (VPR) or designate signature is not required.
10. The Research Services Office (RSO) or designate signature will be required on all completed applications from the Allocation stream or the Quantum stream.
11. Applicants should allow 1-3 weeks to obtain the appropriate university signatures.