Ontario announces $10M for Mitacs to build more internships for in-demand jobs

TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing over $10 million to help Mitacs — an organization that builds research partnerships between postsecondary institutions and industry — create 2,700 paid internships for postsecondary students which will help them gain the skills they need to secure in-demand jobs after graduation. This latest investment supports high-quality research in the province.

“We are proud to support high-quality research internships to help provide the next generation of talent with the real-world experience they need to get good jobs after graduation, and help businesses address their talent and research needs,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “This support for innovative, hands-on learning, and the efforts of employers, students and postsecondary education institutions to expand opportunities, has made Ontario a national leader in experiential learning.”

Through partnerships with Mitacs, the government is trying to fund research internships for undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. These internships range widely in discipline, with support for key provincial priorities like critical minerals, manufacturing, and health care.

For example, interns with the University of Toronto recently worked on a project with local start-up Quantum Bridge Technologies that focused on building a faster, more secure internet for everyday communication and commerce.