Mitacs Umbrella Funding
Accelerating climate-ready futures
Mitacs Umbrella Funding
SFU Climate Innovation’s Mitacs Umbrella program is streamlining access to funding, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerating climate innovation research with real-world impact.
Simplifying Mitacs Accelerate funding applications under a unified umbrella, the 2025/2026 SFU Climate Innovation Mitacs Umbrella research award supports low-barrier funding where interns will work collaboratively with their academic supervisor and partner organization on climate-related research advancing low carbon resilience and integrated energy systems for sustainable communities in Canada and beyond.
On this page:
Driving climate innovation and collaboration with Mitacs Accelerate
Since 2008, 91ĹÝÜ˝ and have partnered to provide experiential learning opportunities to students and postdocs through the Mitacs Accelerate, Elevate, Globalink, and Step programs. Mitacs Accelerate creates dynamic collaborations that partner organizations with Canada’s brightest academic minds.
This research-based internship program brings together post-secondary students, postdoctoral fellows, industry partners, and academic researchers to solve complex challenges and advance new ideas. By fostering applied research and knowledge transfer, Accelerate enables all stakeholders to achieve their goals—whether it’s developing cutting-edge solutions, exploring new markets, or commercializing research breakthroughs.
Our Mitacs Umbrella will be targeted at projects that advance climate innovation research and solutions, with and for communities in BC and across Canada.
Open to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, the program provides funding and flexibility to support projects starting at four months, with opportunities to scale.
creates dynamic collaborations that partner organizations with Canada’s brightest academic minds.
“SFU and Mitacs have worked together to connect researchers and students with industry, create opportunities for discovery, and inspire research-based innovation. Our relationship will continue to be valued for many years to come for the benefit it brings to British Columbians.”
- Joy Johnson, Vice-President, Research, 91ĹÝÜ˝
Current Projects
Advancing low carbon resilient and sustainable communities
We're building on successful collaborations to transform local climate action strategizing by implementing a low carbon resilience (LCR) framework.
From regenerative agriculture, sustainable urban-transportation alternatives and implementing First Nations Climate Action Plans, SFU Innovation researchers and partners are leading community-centered decarbonization, health, equity, and resilience strategies. Our Mitacs Umbrella will help fast-track projects in these critical areas, advancing climate solutions with and for communities.
Amplifying benefits of nature-based solutions (NbS)
SFU Climate Innovation’s NbS hub co-develops and implements cohesive and systemic green infrastructure, natural asset, and ecosystem-based approaches that benefit both people and nature.
In partnership with First Nations, industry professionals, non-profits and local municipalities across Canada, ACT - Action on Climate Team (ACT) researchers are exploring scaleable solutions to benefit resilient and sustainable communities. Our Mitacs Umbrella will enable this work to scale rapidly, enabling us to work deeper and with more communities.
Advancing Canada's clean hydrogen strategy
As climate change intensifies, so does the need to reduce greenhouse gases and bring clean energy options to market.
In partnership with government, associations and leading companies in British Columbia and across Canada, the SFU Clean Hydrogen Hub is promoting testing and de-risking world-leading hydrogen research and technology. This umbrella funding will support the SFU Clean Hydrogen Hub to accelerate Canada’s Hydrogen Strategy to position Canada as a world-leading producer, user, an exporter of clean hydrogen, and associated technologies
The hub leverages SFU’s leadership in clean hydrogen research and industry partnerships and demonstrates SFU climate innovation in action. It is a testament to how 91ĹÝÜ˝ engaging in global challenges and focused on creating positive change.
Contact: Pranshu Shelat, Program Manager, SFU Clean Hydrogen Hub hydrogen_hub_pmo@sfu.ca
Application Process
Mitacs’ standard funding model requires a partner contribution starting at $7,500 CAD per internship (4 or 6 months) which results in a $15,000 CAD research award. Of this award, the intern must receive a minimum $10,000 CAD stipend or salary.
Postdoctoral researchers require a contribution of $10,000 CAD per internship (4 months) which results in a $20,000 CAD research award. This funding model is only available to postdoctoral interns.
The Project
Internships start at four months and can scale up as much as needed.
| Standard Application | Post-Doc | ||
| Project Length | 4 or 6 months | 4 of 6 months | 4 months |
| Projects Funds | $5,000 CAD | $0 | $5,000 CAD |
| Total Research Award | $15,000 CAD | $10,000 CAD | $20,000 CAD |
| Min. Stipend Total (of award total) | $10,000 CAD | $10,000 CAD | $15,000 CAD |
| Partner Matched Contribution | $7,500 CAD | $5,000 CAD | $10,000 CAD |
- Mitacs invoices the partner
- Partner sends the funds to Mitacs
- Mitacs send the award to SFU Climate Innovation
- SFU Climate Innovation – or designated partner - administers the award
Mitacs invoices a partner organization upon submission of their Accelerate proposal. Upon receipt of the partner’s contribution, Mitacs forwards the research award to the Canadian academic institution.
No funds will be released to the academic institution until the invoice has been paid and the proposal is approved. Mitacs has no control over when funds are administered by the academic institution.
If you have questions about your Accelerate award after Mitacs has released funds, contact annika_rosanowski@sfu.ca.
Start Date and End Date Policy
Projects must adhere to the .
Projects that exceed the limits stated in the policy will expire and be slated for cancellation. Participants who anticipate exceeding the limits should contact Mitacs with an explanation and request an adjustment to the project timeline.
Intellectual Property
All Mitacs-funded projects must adhere to the . Learn more about SFU’s IP Policies here.
Responsibilities
Learn more about the on the Mitacs website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What organization or corporations are eligible SFU Climate Innovation Mitacs Umbrella partners?
- Partner organizations can be for-profit corporations (must receive more than 50% of their funds from non-government sources), eligible not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, or hospitals in Canada.
- For-profit businesses and not-for-profit corporations operating outside of Canada are eligible as additional partners on projects with a Canadian partner organization.
- Eligibility can be confirmed with a Mitacs Advisor.
Additional resources for community partners:
What makes a Mitacs eligible intern/student researcher?
An intern can be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, international student with a student visa, or international postdoctoral fellow with a valid work permit. Interns must be 18 years old or over, and fall into one of the following categories:
Registered students and postdoctoral fellows at Mitacs partner colleges and universities in Canada. Postdoctoral fellows are eligible if the date of graduation from a PhD program is less than five years to the start date of the project. Exceptions are available for extenuating circumstances such as parental leave or military service. Fellows must not have been employed full-time at the partner organization prior to applying.
Recent graduates (must be within two years of graduation at the start of their project), and non-degree students (diploma, certificate, etc) are eligible at the academic institution’s discretion. (Any interested applicants should check with their institution to first determine whether they are able to support other types of university interns before drafting an application.)
Visiting students and researchers at Canadian academic institutions who are completing a degree at a university abroad may also be eligible at the discretion of the Canadian institution.
What potential conflict of interest (COI) must be declared by applicants?
All parties must declare any potential upon application submission, including:
- An academic supervisor in a position of ownership, employment or influence over operations at the partner organization.
- An intern is in a position of ownership, employment or influence over operations at the partner organization.
- Programs participants with a close family relationship with each other, or with someone in a position of ownership employment or influence at the partner organization.
Interns may interact remotely with an international partner organization and/or travel to interact in person. Any travel must be in accordance with their Canadian academic institution’s policies.
Learn more about Conflict of Interest Policies for SFU researchers.
What types of projects qualify for SFU Climate Innovation Mitacs Umbrella?
We’re accelerating climate-related research across all nine SFU Faculties. Emerging climate-research areas of interest identified by our community include:
- Equitable, Climate-Ready Communities
- Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
- Hydrogen and Alternative Energy
- Indigenous Knowledges and Rights
- Low Carbon Resilient Buildings and Transportation
- Climate Change Communications
- Innovative Governance and Climate Financing
- Sustainable Community Development
- Innovation Research and Commercialization
But this list is not exhaustive. Please contact us with any questions about your project’s eligibility.
What can I expect before, during and after my application and internship?
Visit Mitacs FAQ for details to consider before, during, after you apply and during your internship.
What is a typical project timeline?
- SFU internal approvals (~1 week)
- Mitacs review (~2 weeks, preapproved stream)
- Mitacs invoices the partner
- Partner sends the funds to Mitacs
- Mitacs send the award to SFU Climate Innovation
- SFU Climate Innovation administers the award
Projects must adhere to the .
Projects that exceed the limits stated in the policy will expire and be slated for cancellation. Participants who anticipate exceeding the limits should contact Mitacs with an explanation and request an adjustment to the project timeline.
For questions, reach out to Skye Vallance, SFU Climate Innovation Program Coordinator, skye_vallance@sfu.ca