Alberta commits $15M over 3 years to Mitacs

File photo of a researcher working at the University of Alberta.

The Alberta government is committing $15 million over three years to the Mitacs’ internship program.

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The provincial funding, alongside funding from the federal government and industry, is expected to enable the program to take on 3,000 students.

Mitacs, a non-profit, provides grant and internship programs in research and development, innovation and science. Twenty-three Alberta post-secondary schools have funding agreements through Mitacs.

Officials on Thursday at a news conference called the provincial money an investment in the future and cutting-edge research.

“Today’s announcement and notable investment in Mitacs will allow us to get to work helping build an even stronger economy in this great province. This critical funding will also help develop and retain talent from Alberta’s colleges, polytechnics and universities,” said Eva Reddington, vice-president of policy, program development and government relations.

Siddartha Biswas, a former Mitacs student and now a research scientist at Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation, said his internship changed the trajectory of his research and career.

“It changed my thinking of research being applied, and more on an innovative platform…. Mitacs actually taught me how to change the knowledge and how to carry over that knowledge and how to get into more innovative ideas.”

The Alberta government has supported the internship program since 2020.

Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney on Thursday also announced the government was recommitting to supporting Mitacs’ Global Link Research program at $350,000 a year.

“This renewal, coupled with today’s announcement of $15 million for the Mitacs internship program, reinforces our government’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, supporting Alberta students and driving the province’s economic growth,” she said.