MITACS ACCELERATE Canada’s Graduate Research Internship Program

1. MITACS ACCELERATECanada’s Graduate Research Internship Program Alexandra Reid May 21st, 2009

2. What is MITACS ACCELERATE? • Innovative ‘made-in-Canada’ program • Links university faculty and grad students/PDFs from any department or discipline with Canadian companies • Focus on short-term, flexible research projects

3. How does it work? • Internships are funded 50/50 with both company and MITACS contributing $7.5K • Company/organization identifies research problem • Student spends half of time on site with company • Remaining time spent at home university under the supervision of professor • $15K is provided to professor as a research grant • $10K given to student as stipend • $5K covers additional costs associated with project

4. How does it work? • No application deadlines; proposals are accepted at any time • Foreign students are eligible • Quick turnaround time on reviews (4-6 weeks) • Proposals are peer-reviewed at arms length **A pre-approved internship proposal can be used to draw interest from potential grad students**

5. How MITACS ACCELERATE works identify research opportunities access research expertise collaborative research CANADIAN INDUSTRY CANADIAN UNIVERSITY

6. Program advantages for industry • Research projects are company driven • Leverages existing R&D budgets • HR recruitment tool; connecting you with potential employees • Facilitates new relationships with university-based researchers • No application deadlines; proposals accepted any time

7. And for students… • Opportunity to apply graduate research to real-world industry challenges • Enhance future employment opportunities • Develop valuable, professional relationships with industry and other non-academic organizations

8. Finding a partner • Partner organizations should be for-profit companies • Limited opportunities with other organizations, including hospitals, government labs and agencies • Existing collaborations – speak to the Office of Research Services at U Windsor • Environmental scan – find a company that matches up with your research interests

9. Why MITACS? Great connectors. • Entrepreneurial • Front-line staff across country • Bilingual • Nimble • Results-oriented • Innovative

10. What is the application process? • Speak to us first – we will assist you with the application! • Informal review of draft proposal • Official submission • Short research proposal • Student CV • Memorandum (signatures) 4. Adjudication • Is this a research project at the graduate level? • Is there a potential for on-going research and collaboration?

11. What is the application process? • Application process – simple and straightforward • Vast majority of applications are approved • Extremely flexible – many ways to use program • No limit on number of internships per supervisor/lab • Amount of internships/student: 2 for Masters, 4 for PhD, 6 for Postdocs • ‘Toe in the water’ for both PI’s and industry

12. Scenario #1 – Typical not-for-profit internship • Not-for-Profit partner (i.e. hospital, NGO, agency) provides the $7.5K and MITACS matches it. • The intern spends 50% time at partner site and 50% time at U Windsor. • No industry interaction. • Availability = LIMITED (First come, first serve)

13. Does reducing postural variability lead to an increase in the prevalence of work-related injuries in lean automotive assembly? This study will hopefully find if the prolonged static postures observed in lean manufacturing are contributing to the increase in work related musculoskeletal injuries. This will benefit Pinnacle Rehabilitation by allowing the ergonomists to have valuable information which promotes either dynamic postures or sustained neutral postures throughout the day. • University: University of Windsor • Discipline: Kinesiology • Partner: Pinnacle Rehabilitation

14. Scenario #2 – Typical for-profit internship • A company provides the $7.5K and MITACS matches it. • The intern spends 50% at the company and 50% time at U Windsor. • Significant industry interaction • Availability = UNLIMITED

15. Warehouse and Distribution Network Optimization The project is aimed at the development of mathematical models and algorithms to optimize the supply chain network configuration for Dainty Foods, a food processing, packaging and storage company. The partner wants to optimize their current supply chain network through the management of their internal warehouse space and how it relates to external warehousing and cross-docking. • University: University of Windsor • Discipline: Engineering • Partner: Dainty Foods

16. Scenario #3 – Not-for-profit contribution with industry connection • Not-for-profit sponsor provides the $7.5K and MITACS matches it. • The intern spends at least 25-50% with an industry partner(s), some interaction with NFP sponsor and remainder at U Windsor • Moderate industry interaction • Availability = UNLIMITED

17. Green Technology – the Role the Municipal Government Can Play • University: University of British Columbia • Discipline: Business Admin • Partner: Vancouver Economic Development Commission The research project being undertaken focuses on determining the key opportunities for the green technology industry in Vancouver at the municipal level. How can municipal standards, procurement, and government programs be leveraged to provide opportunities for local companies to demonstrate and deploy their solutions?

18. For more information … • Alexandra Reid • Director, Business Development • areid@mitacs.ca • 519.504.8982 www.mitacsaccelerate.ca