Photonic Sciences and Innovations - Mitacs Accelerate Internship Program
Photonic sciences and innovations
Mitacs-accelerate internship program
In the fall of 2024, the Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) strategic cluster, supported by Optonique, signed a framework proposal for 166 Mitacs-Accelerate internship units over 2 years, representing nearly $2.5 million in scholarships reserved for student members to carry out collaborative internships in non-academic workplaces.
This program aims to strengthen collaborations between COPL’s academic researchers and industrial partners in the optics-photonics field, and to enhance the training of the next generation by supporting partnered research activities in the form of company internships.
*Accelerate is Mitacs’ flagship program, supporting collaborative applied research between academics and non-academics.
Advantages of the framework proposal
- Quick start-up for projects of any size
- Shortened project activation form
- Eligibility assessment shortened to 2 or 3 weeks
- Applications accepted at any time
- Support for matching companies and expertise
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria of the Mitacs Accelerate program apply.
To apply under the agreement, in addition to the criteria established by Mitacs, you must:
- Name the student(s) included in the application;
- The student must be a member of COPL regroupement stratégique (all member institutions and all levels of study are eligible);
- Projects must be related to one of COPL’s research axes.
Other relevant information
Funding starts at $15,000, up to the number of internship units requested.
- Other models in effect under Accelerate also apply.
- Interns can be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or from other countries (valid visa or work permit).
- Canadian for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, hospitals and municipalities are eligible partners.
- Applications are accepted at all times.
You are a COPL member wishing to submit an application with a known partner:
- Contact the program committee (StagePhotonique@copl.ulaval.ca) to validate the project’s relevance to COPL’s research areas by submitting a non-confidential summary.
- Following approval, complete the project activation form and forward it directly to Valérie Lapointe, Mitacs advisor, for verification.
- Submit the completed form to Mitacs.
To access the form, click here: Photonics_Internship_Form_ 2025
Eligibility will be assessed and a reply sent no later than 3 weeks after submission. Once approved, your project can start in accordance with the policies in place at your university!
You are a company interested in offering an internship to a student, or looking for specific expertise to establish a collaboration:
Consult the research areas section and communicate your project to the program committee to help you identify a collaborator: StagePhotonique@copl.ulaval.ca.