Sponsor

NSERC and Mitacs

Program

Joint NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate

For More Information

General Grant Information:

• Mitacs Accelerate Program [1]
  • Mitacs Accelerate Allocation for Guelph 2025-26 [2]
• NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate Joint Application Website [3]
• Revised Guidelines on assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring [4]
• NSERC Alliance Advantage - Frequently Asked Questions [5]
• NSERC Alliance Grant Application Checklist [6]
• Research Innovation Office NSERC Alliance Resources [7]

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resources:

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resource Document for Researchers [8]
• Alliance Grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in training plans [9]
• NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research [10]
• New IEDI in Research Self-Directed Learning Course Now Available on CourseLink [11]

National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships Resources:

• U of G Guide for Completing the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form - NSERC Alliance [12]
• U of G Guide to Mitacs Research Security Requirements [13]
• NSERC Alliance Grants - National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships [14]
• Safeguarding your Research Portal [15]

Description

Through NSERC’s Alliance grants [16] and Mitacs’ Accelerate program [17], the current cost-sharing model is available to Canadian researchers through a single application submission and review process. Applicants are invited to include in their Alliance application a request for additional support through Mitacs Accelerate internships as a component of the training of highly qualified personnel. Industry funds are recognized towards the global budget of joint applications. 

Alliance grants [16] support university researchers in collaborating with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors, on their R&D efforts that will create economic, social and/or environmental benefits to Canada. The joint application is available for use with NSERC Alliance Advantage only. 

Accelerate [17] puts the talent of students and postdocs to work with a paid internship at an organization that needs their expertise. Currently, Mitacs internship units can be added at no additional cost to the partner organization.

Alliance-Accelerate applications require the following information when outlining the training of highly qualified personnel:

• A description of the role of the Mitacs interns in the research project and an explanation of the quality of the research-based training experiences provided to the interns.
• A description of how the internship partnership organization is committed to providing supervision and mentorship to the interns.
• An explanation of how the number of Mitacs interns and the number of internship units are appropriate to the scope of the project.

Eligibility

• Applicants must meet both NSERC [18]’s and Mitacs [19]’ eligibility criteria both when the application is submitted and when funding is released.
• Canadian university researchers eligible [18] to receive NSERC funds can apply independently or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible [18] academic researchers.
• Applicants must have at least one partner organization (in the private, public or not-for-profit sector) whose cash contributions will be recognized for cost-sharing (see Alliance grants: Role of partner organizations [20]) but other partner organizations who play an important role in the research project may be included in the application, whether or not their cash contributions are recognized for cost-sharing. Partner Organizations must meet both Mitacs' eligibility requirements as well as NSERC's eligibility requirements, in order to qualify for this cost-sharing model.
  • Eligible Partner Organizations [19]under the Mitacs Accelerate Program include:
    • Eligible for-profit corporations in Canada and not-for-profit corporations in Canada
    • For-profit businesses operating outside Canada
    • Under the Accelerate Entrepreneur initiative, eligible intern-owned start-ups at approved incubators. Contact accelerate@mitacs.ca [21] to confirm your start-up’s eligibility
    • Not-for-profit corporation eligibility and project economic orientation must be assessed prior to proposal submission
    • All sectors

Indirect Costs

0% on eligible partner funds invoiced directly by Mitacs. Please note, these partner funds will be subject to applicable provincial taxes (13% HST for partners based in Ontario).

The Full Cost of Research policy [22] applies to any remaining partner funds not leveraged by Mitacs (to be invoiced by the University of Guelph). 

Project Duration

Up to 5 years (minimum 1 year)

Special Notes

Mitacs-NSERC Joint Application Updates for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year

Mitacs and NSERC have signed an amended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. This agreement introduces a streamlined, two-part application process for joint Mitacs–NSERC applications and introduces changes to the joint funding model.

The updated model separates applications into two distinct phases:

• Part 1 – Project Approval (with NSERC Application):
  • Submitted alongside the NSERC application.
  • Describes alignment of Mitacs internships with the NSERC-funded research.
  • Requires a recruitment plan.
  • Enables Mitacs to verify and sign off for eligibility.
  • *Please note - the Mitacs Part 1 Application is completed in advance of the NSERC Alliance submission. Please allow 2-3 weeks after submission of the Mitacs Part 1 Application and invitation to Mitacs in the NSERC system for Mitacs to review/sign-off on their contributions in the NSERC portal.
• Part 2 – Intern Activation:
  • Submitted only after Part 1 is approved.
  • Must include named interns (no TBD's permitted) and specific project/methodology details.

How to Apply

Initiating a Joint NSERC/Mitacs Application & Adding Mitacs to the NSERC Application:

• Mitacs is treated as a partner on the NSERC application and therefore faculty need to add Mitacs as a Partner Contributor. In order to do this, please select ‘Alliance Grants - Mitacs Accelerate’ under the ‘Type of Call’ in the drop down. This will only populate at the beginning of a new application/Form 101.
• Please contact Guelph's Mitacs Advisor, Fatemeh Bakhtiari (fbakhtiari@mitacs.ca [24]), with the intent to apply in order to obtain instructions on adding Mitacs to your NSERC Alliance application.