Feds give Mitacs $162 million for AI internship program for smaller Canadian businesses. Federal government will fund 10,000 paid placements for students and recent graduates in AI-related fields. The Government of Canada is putting $162 million behind a plan to make AI adoption easier for non-technical small and medium-sized businesses. The news: The federal government has unveiled an AI internship program that seeks to bring young AI talent to Canada's small and medium-sized businesses. Speaking in Toronto on Friday at an event hosted by the Empire Club of Canada, AI Minister Evan Solomon announced a $162-million investment in Mitacs to create 10,000 paid AI work placements for students and recent graduates from AI-related programs. From the source: "That is 10,000 opportunities to move dollars from post-secondary institutions to the wider economy; 10,000 opportunities to gain access to the expertise they need to put AI to work in a practical, reliable state," Solomon said to an audience that included business leaders and 120 students. "It's not just an employment program; it's an adoption program. It builds the workforce of the future. It helps Canadian organizations be more productive and stay competitive." The context: With the funding announcement, the federal government is following through on a commitment it made in June, when it unveiled Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. That strategy promised up to 90,000 AI-related jobs and work placement opportunities for young Canadians by 2031, including 10,000 through the Mitacs ADOPT and AI+X programs. The investment was inspired in part by an internship program at Communitech, which paired young AI talent with local businesses in non-technical industries to support AI adoption. Final thought: The government's efforts and investment in AI adoption are part of a strategy to reduce the disconnect between technology skills and Canada's non-technical business community. This program, according to Solomen, is intended to bridge that gap. The long-term viability of the country's ambitious AI strategy depends on the development of home-grown AI talent, and the ability to spread that talent beyond the tech sector. The program, if successful, could help address both challenges. At the same time, it's hard not to draw parallels to the promises made to the previous generation about lucrative and fulfilling careers in programming, which are starting to disappear thanks to AI. Feature image courtesy The BetaKit Podcast.

Prompt and Mitacs join forces to accelerate quantum innovation in Quebec. Published on 16 September 2026 Announcement [NEWS RELEASE] For immediate release Montréal, September 16, 2026 - Prompt and Mitacs announced a new agreement aimed at providing Quebec's quantum community with an optimized funding opportunity to accelerate the development of collaborative projects in quantum technologies. By combining their respective resources, Prompt and Mitacs will enable innovators to cover a broader range of expenses essential to carrying out their research and development projects - from infrastructure to support for the talent that contributes to their success. In particular, funding will be available through grants and salaries for highly qualified personnel (HQP). "Quantum technologies, which are strategic for Quebec, are opening up new possibilities in fields as diverse as communications, computing, detection, and cybersecurity. The transition from research to practical applications requires the coordinated mobilization of various resources and areas of expertise, and that is precisely what this new agreement with Mitacs reinforces," said Dominique St-Louis, Executive Director of Prompt. "At Mitacs, we believe that strong partnerships are key to advancing talent and innovation in strategic sectors like quantum. This agreement with Prompt reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Quebec's and Canada's innovation ecosystems through research, collaboration, and talent development. Together, we are creating the connections and opportunities needed to turn research excellence into economic impact," said Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO of Mitacs. Since 2019, Prompt has allocated nearly $11 million to 16 collaborative quantum technology projects, representing a total value of more than $21 million. Between April 2018 and March 2026, Mitacs supported a growing network of collaborative initiatives - both led by postsecondary institutions and driven by the private sector - in the fields of quantum and advanced computing. This includes $34.8 million in funding for more than 700 projects across Canada. This new agreement between Prompt and Mitacs marks another step forward in the two organizations' commitment to advancing innovation and economic growth in strategic sectors. Together, they connect the stakeholders and resources needed to transform Quebec's scientific and technological excellence into high-potential innovations. About Prompt Prompt supports the development and acceleration of cutting-edge technologies in Quebec in strategic fields: AI, quantum technologies, microelectronics, and optics and photonics. As a catalyst for the technological innovation ecosystem, Prompt supports companies in carrying out their R&D projects - from ambition to innovation - particularly in the defense, cyber resilience, manufacturing productivity, and telecommunications sectors. Established in 2003 as a fiduciary body of the ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (MEIE), Prompt is a nonprofit organization and one of nine sector-based industrial research clusters (RSRI) mandated to develop and support innovation ecosystems and collaborative research in strategic sectors of Quebec's economy. About Mitacs Mitacs delivers the return on innovation Canada needs now by connecting big ideas, people, and ambition to turn potential into results. Mitacs co-funds innovation partnerships that get Canada's businesses and researchers where they need to go. Mitacs partners innovate faster. Commercialize sooner. Compete globally. Scale and grow stronger. Prompt open the door to opportunity, creating jobs and equipping students and postdoctoral researchers with skills, industry experience, and professional networks. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon. Media contact: Émilie Delvoye Director of communications 438 924-2140 Promptinnov.com

New Munich Quantum Valley-Mitacs collaboration supports global talent networks. 15 September 2026 Munich Quantum Valley gGmbH and Mitacs, a national innovation connector in Canada, are partnering to promote quantum research and talent development. The agreement signed today signals the organizations' shared commitment to innovation in a strategically important sector while strengthening international collaboration between Canada and Germany, particularly Bavaria. Over the next two years, this cooperation will enable Mitacs and MQV gGmbH to promote joint research collaborations and workforce development in the quantum sector. It will also enhance the mobility of students and researchers through funding programs. The partnership will also support joint initiatives with academic institutions, advancing the countries' innovation goals, strengthening global networks, and encouraging future collaborations in quantum technologies at Canadian and Bavarian postsecondary institutions. With a focus on research, talent, and commercialization, the Mitacs-MQV gGmbH partnership unites efforts to drive quantum innovation. "Advancing both talent and innovation is key to Canada's leadership in quantum, which offers a critical opportunity to help grow our country's future prosperity. Mitacs' partnership with the Munich Quantum Valley gGmbH highlights the value of international collaboration with world-leading partners to advance research, strengthen innovation, and prepare the next generation of quantum talent. Together, we are harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation to drive economic growth, resilience, and long-term competitiveness." Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs "Canada has an excellent track record in research and talent development in quantum technologies. We are proud that through our partnership with Mitacs we can facilitate the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and talent between Canadian institutions and the MQV ecosystem. Both ecosystems can only grow stronger as researchers, ideas, and expertise move freely between them." Julia Rucha, (Co-)Chief Executive Officer, MQV gGmbH