Joint NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate Streamlined Funding Opportunity - Upcoming 2025/26 Deadlines
Sponsor
NSERC and Mitacs
Program
Joint NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate
For More Information
NSERC Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate Joint Application Website [3]
Revised Guidelines on assessment of contributions to research, training, and mentoring [4]
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resource Document for Researchers [5]
Alliance Grants: Equity, diversity and inclusion in training plans [6]
NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research [7]
U of G Guide to Mitacs Research Security Requirements [9]
NSERC Alliance Grants - National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships [10]
Safeguarding your Research Portal [11]
NSERC Alliance - Frequently Asked Questions [12]
NSERC Alliance Grant Application Checklist [13]
Description
Through NSERC’s Alliance grants [14] and Mitacs’ Accelerate program [15], 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 [14] 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 [15] 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 [16]’s and Mitacs [17]’ eligibility criteria both when the application is submitted and when funding is released.
- Canadian university researchers eligible [16] to receive NSERC funds can apply independently or as a team with co-applicants who are also eligible [16] academic researchers.
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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 [18]) 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.
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Eligible Partner Organizations [17]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 [19] 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
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Eligible Partner Organizations [17]under the Mitacs Accelerate Program include:
Indirect Costs
0% on eligible partner funds invoiced directly by Mitacs. Please note, these partner funds will be subject to 13% HST.
The Full Cost of Research policy [20] applies to partner funds directed to NSERC (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.
Transition Period – Phasing out the Existing (previous) Application Process
- Joint Mitacs–NSERC applications using the previous format can still be submitted until May 30, 2025.
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Proposals using the old template that are declined after May 30, 2025, must either:
- Resubmit using the new process, OR,
- Submit a standalone Mitacs Accelerate application.
New 2-Part Process – Available April 2025
The updated model separates applications into two distinct phases:
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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.
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Part 2 – Intern Activation:
- Submitted only after Part 1 is approved.
- Must include named interns (no TBDS permitted) and specific project/methodology details.
- Internship units will only count toward institutional allocations in the fiscal year they are activated—helping preserve unused allocation.
Updated Funding Structure: With Mitacs' new funding agreement under the Strategic Science Fund, starting April 1, 2026, Mitacs can no longer match industry funding supporting another federal program, such as NSERC. As a result, the current joint model, where the same industry funds support both NSERC and Mitacs Accelerate, will be phased out.
Recommendations for Researchers
- Plan proactively if you are considering a joint NSERC–Mitacs project this year.
- Submit NSERC+Mitacs (Part 1) application by December 19, 2025 and named interns (Part 2) by March 4, 2026 to retain joint leverage.
- Avoid submitting projects with multiple TBDS or weak recruitment plans, especially under the old application process.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
Internal Deadline | A completed OR-5 and full Mitacs application must be submitted to the Research Services Office (research.services@uoguelph.ca [21]) a minimum of one (1) week before the deadlines communicated in the External Deadlines section below related to submission of the associated application components to Mitacs. The submission to the Research Services Office should include an OR-5 that outlines NSERC, Mitacs and Partner Organization funding. Subsequently, once Mitacs approves their components in the NSERC portal, allowing the lead researcher to 'verify and submit', please allow for two (2) weeks for final review/submission of the main NSERC application. The submitted NSERC application will include a complete copy of the supplemental Mitacs application, previously reviewed by Mitacs and signed by Research Services. |
External Deadline | The Research Services Office will submit the full application on behalf of the applicant to NSERC through their online system. The lead applicant is responsible for submitting the supplemental forms to Mitacs (excel budget file and intern(s) CV's, if known). Important External Deadlines
NOTE: Projects submitted after these deadlines will still benefit from the streamlined application process but will not be eligible for shared funding leverage. Independent matching will be required for each program. |
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/Form101.
- Please contact Guelph's Mitacs Advisor, Fatemeh Bakhtiari (fbakhtiari@mitacs.ca [22]) with the intent to apply, to obtain instructions on adding Mitacs to your NSERC Alliance application, and for considerations related to the Mitacs Accelerate Allocation for Guelph 2025-26 [2].