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Lead Canada's Global Research Impact

Unlock funding to build Horizon Europe consortia with the Mitacs International Mobility Award (IMA). 


Call opens August 25th!    

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Program Overview

Advancing Canada’s Engagement in Horizon Europe

Canada is now formally associated with Horizon Europe Pillar II, opening new doors for researchers and innovators to lead and participate in world-class R&D consortia. To seize this opportunity, Mitacs is launching the Horizon Europe International Mobility Award (IMA) – a short-term strategic initiative to support Canadian faculty and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in joining or building Horizon Europe consortia.

 

What it offers:

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Funded travel to Europe for consortia-building – up to $5,000 CAD per applicant, or $10,000 CAD total for two participants

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Access to global partners, research-focused matchmaking events, and proposal workshops

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Early-stage support for Horizon Europe Pillar II calls

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Designed for:

 Canadian faculty at eligible post-secondary institutions

    Canadian SMEs with an interest in international R&D collaboration

Applicants can apply in one of the following three (3) profiles:

One (1) professor Two (2) Professors One (1) Professor
& One (1) Full-time
employee of an SME

Applicants must:

  •  Identify a Horizon Europe Pillar II Cluster and specific Destination
  •  Outline planned engagement activities that will support consortia participation
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Global Collaboration, Strategic Impact

As geopolitical dynamics shift, Canada’s innovation resilience depends on deepening ties with like-minded allies. Horizon Europe, backed by a €95.5B (CAD 154B) budget, offers a values-aligned platform to drive innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

Mitacs’s IMA initiative supports Canada’s national objectives by:

  • Strengthening partnerships with European researchers and institutions
  • Enabling early proposal development for competitive Horizon Europe calls
  • Enhancing Canada’s reputation as a reliable and forward-looking R&D partner
  • Increasing Canadian access to funding targeting multilateral approaches to global challenges
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Your Gateway to Horizon Europe Starts Here

Mitacs IMA can support: 

  • Round-trip airfare to European Union host countries
  • Accommodation during engagement activities
  • Per diem and ground transportation
  • Participation in key events organized by Horizon Europe National Contact Points (NCPs), the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), and EU research institutions

Eligible Activities: 

  • Identifying and meeting potential partners
  • Participating in consortium-building workshops
  • Developing proposals and aligning R&D priorities
  • Visiting institutions, research centers, or sites related to Horizon calls
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Timeline & How to Apply

  Program Launch: August 25th, 2025

   Call Closing Date: September 29th, 2025

  Review Decision Date: Estimated 4 weeks post-close date

 

How to apply:

  1. Review the Horizon Europe Work Programmes (see links below)
  2. Identify relevant partners and calls
  3. Complete your IMA Application Form
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Shaping the Future of Canada-Europe Research Collaboration

Through IMA, Mitacs aims to:

  • Enable greater Canadian participation in Horizon Europe
  • Convert promising early-stage collaborations into long-term innovation projects
  • Increase Canadian research networks in Europe for collaboration within and beyond Horizons Europe
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Horizons Europe Background

Mitacs will carefully review all applications and select successful participants based on*:

  • Excellence of the applicants
  • Strength of existing ties to consortia
  • Impact of proposed activities
  • Budget justification

* If demand for the Mitacs – Horizon Europe International Mobility Award pilot exceeds the total spots available, the most suitable applicants will be selected based on the above criteria. 

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Helpful Links

Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 - Strategic plan - European Commission 

Work Programme 2026-2027: The European Commission has shared drafts of the upcoming work programme on the Comitology Register. 

  • To download these drafts, use “Horizon Europe” as the committee title and “RTD” as the service responsible. Drafts are found under the document section of the programme committee meeting and are titled “Draft Implementing Decision – Work Programme 2026-2027”. Please note: These drafts are subject to change. Final or official copies are expected to be published by late December/early January. 

ISED National Contact Point - Horizon Europe contact information 

Canada Horizon Europe General Info - Horizon Europe 

Horizon Europe EU National Contact Points - Find your NCP | Horizon Europe NCP Portal 

Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service - Contact us - Tradecommissioner.gc.ca 

Euraxess North America - EURAXESS North America | EURAXESS


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FAQs

Horizon Europe is the world’s largest research and innovation collaboration program, with a budget of $154 billion (€95.5 billion) for the period 2021–2027. Canada is an “associated country” for Pillar II project calls from 2024 to 2027. 

Each year, Pillar II – Global Challenges offers approximately $10 billion in project calls focused on addressing global challenges. These initiatives bring together selected partners—consortia of Europeans, associated countries, and others—to co-develop innovative solutions. 

The next set of project calls for 2025 will be published in late April 2025, while the final set covering 2026–2027 will be released by early 2026. 

Applications must be submitted by one faculty member, with the option to include either one additional faculty member or one SME Partner Organization contact. Applications must not include more than two travelers. 

  • Faculty member(s) at full and associate member universities: Only full-time faculty may apply. Adjunct faculty are not eligible. No restrictions on academic discipline, however the applicant’s field must align with ongoing Horizon Europe calls for proposals and/or corresponding European research consortia.  
  • Partner Organization: Only for-profit small- and medium-sized enterprises incorporated in Canada may apply. Canadian arms of large multinationals are not eligible. There is no restriction on industry sector, however their field must align with ongoing Horizon Europe calls for proposals and/or corresponding European research consortia. Any designated traveller(s) from an SME must be a full-time employee, founder, or owner. 

Begin by reviewing the official Horizon Europe Work Programme, which outlines the Cluster’s themes and objectives. Focus on the cluster whose research and innovation priorities align with your expertise and project goals. 

You may also wish to consult your academic institution’s International Office or Office of Research Services. They may be able to offer guidance, share insights from past participation in Horizon Europe consortia, or help connect you with potential partners. 

Yes. Your organization can apply more than once, but each application must demonstrate a distinct travel need, involve different eligible travelers, and meet application requirements. 

To support our member institutions and manage anticipated demand, eligibility for this pilot is limited to faculty at full or associate member institutions

Yes. These opportunities are eligible. When applying, please clearly indicate the specific opportunity (e.g., Mission, Partnership, or New European Bauhaus) as your destination in the application form and ensure you reference it consistently in the relevant sections of your proposal.

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Mitacs Academic Partners

The strong support from governments across Canada, international partners, universities, colleges, companies, and community organizations has enabled Mitacs to focus on the core idea that talent and partnerships power innovation — and innovation creates a better future.

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