Competition

Information session: October 27, 2026 at 1:00 pm ET. Mitacs will host an online information session to share more details about these two AI-focused offerings, including funding, eligibility, application guidance, and next steps

Mitacs has launched Mitacs AI Advantage, featuring two AI-focused program streams (ADOPT and AI+X) that connect Canadian organizations with postsecondary talent to support artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and AI-enabled innovation.

Aligned with Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All, the initiative will:

• Create up to 10,000 meaningful, hands-on AI-related opportunities for students and postdoctoral fellows over five years

• Help organizations get results with AI and advance AI-enabled research and innovation

We see an important role for postsecondary institutions in supporting this work by connecting faculty expertise, emerging talent, and institutional research strengths to organizations that are exploring AI adoption, advancing AI-enabled innovation, or undertaking multidisciplinary AI research.

About the program streams

Together, the two Mitacs AI Advantage program streams will help organizations at different stages of their AI journey access talent, research expertise, and project support. These offerings build on Mitacs’ proven approach of embedding talent directly into organizations to advance innovation, applied research, and business growth.

• ADOPT will help organizations (particularly small and medium-sized enterprises) explore AI tools, develop AI roadmaps, build internal AI capacity, and implement AI solutions. 

• AI+X will support AI-enabled research and innovation that combines AI expertise with other sector/domain knowledge to address business, operational, scientific, social, or technological challenges. 

Key details

• Both offerings have launched through the Accelerate RAP portal and remain available for up to five years.

• Both offerings will use a blended Accelerate and BSI application form and follow standard Accelerate and BSI eligibility requirements.

• Award values will be available at $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000 for all eligible intern levels, with an enhanced $25,000 award value available for postdoctoral fellows. All award values are calculated per internship unit.

• Further details can be found at mitacs.ca/aiadvantage.

Before you begin your application, please contact Memorial's Mitacs advisors, who will assist you in completing the application process: Heidi Crummell, 709-327-8902, hcrummell@mitacs.ca.

When the application is complete, the Mitacs Advisor will request that the application be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. Allow at least 10 business days for these reviews to be completed.

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed RP submission instructions and information, please consult the "How Do I...?" page of HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), contact an HSS Grants Facilitation Officer (GFO), Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca, 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca, 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) of your intent to apply. Informing HSS of youir intent to apply early, may make it possible for you to avail of HSS's proposal development supports and will help facilitate an efficient final review. A GFO can also answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures.