On September 25, 2026 (datelined Toronto), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced that the federal government will provide up to CAD 162 million over five years, beginning in 2026–2027, to Mitacs. The funding will support 10,000 co‑funded AI-related work placements for post‑secondary students, recent graduates and postdoctoral fellows to work with Canadian businesses and accelerate AI adoption and commercialization. This is described in the official Government of Canada news release and the matching Mitacs news item.
Mitacs and the government say the funding will be delivered through Mitacs AI Advantage and its two complementary streams: ADOPT (placements focused on AI adoption by industry partners) and AI+X (placements focused on AI-driven innovation and research collaborations). The program aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises access talent and practical AI support they may otherwise lack.
The announcement links this Mitacs funding to Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All. The government says the broader strategy intends to create up to 90,000 AI‑related job and work‑placement opportunities for young Canadians by 2031; the Mitacs allocation represents a near-term, targeted step to embed AI talent into Canadian businesses.
Independent reporting in BetaKit and other professional outlets summarized the government release and provided context about the program’s intent to drive adoption among smaller firms. The government and Mitacs materials specify the program start (2026–2027) and program structure; no future distribution timetable for the 10,000 placements was specified in the primary release.