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Lead Canada's Global Research Impact

Unlock funding to support participation in Horizon Europe, the world’s largest flagship research and innovation funding program, with the Mitacs International Mobility Award (IMA).

The second call is now open. Launched March 6, 2026, this second call expands the opportunity to all Mitacs-eligible postsecondary institutions and research institutes and is aimed at faculty members travelling with colleagues from a different postsecondary institution or with an industry partner.

How to apply:

1. Download the application form (Faculty-Faculty collaboration or Faculty-Industry collaboration)
2. Access and complete the SimpleSurvey link below to submit your application

Apply now
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Program Overview

Advancing Canada’s Engagement in Horizon Europe

Canada is an “associated country” under Horizon Europe Pillar II (Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness) project calls from 2024–2027, which offers approximately $10 billion each year — opening new doors for Canadian researchers and innovators to lead and participate in world-class R&D consortia. To seize this opportunity, Mitacs launched 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, in fall 2025.

In response to ongoing demand further to Mitacs’ highly successful initial pilot, we have launched a second call for applications with the following updates:

  • Eligibility is extended to all Mitacs-eligible postsecondary institutions and research institutes across Canada.

  • All applications require two participants, either two faculty from different institutions or one faculty member and one industry representative from a Canadian SME.

  • Applications will be reviewed via a rolling cohort basis throughout the call period, and top-rated candidates may receive notice of their approval before the call closing date. Early applications are encouraged, as the competition may close early if available funds are exhausted.

What it offers:

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Funded travel to Europe for consortia-building — up to CAD 10,000 total for two participants

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

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Support for ongoing Horizon Europe Pillar II calls

 

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 two (2) profiles:

 

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

Applicants must:

  •   Identify a Horizon Europe Pillar II Cluster, Destination, and Action aligned with their expertise, per the recently launched Horizon Europe 2026 Work Programme
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  •  Provide justification for travel and planned 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 (over CAD 150B) budget, offers a values-aligned platform to drive innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

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

  • Strengthening partnerships with European researchers and institutions to tackle global challenges
  • 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 centres, or sites related to Horizon calls

Eligible Travel Period:

  • March 6 (open of call) to September 30, 2026
  • Successful applicants may travel as soon as official notice of their successful application has been received from Mitacs
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Timeline

  Program Launch: March 6, 2026

   Call Closing Date: April 8, 2026

  Review Decision Date: Top-rated applicants may receive notice of their approval before the call closing date. All remaining outcomes will be announced within approximately two weeks of the close date.

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How to Apply

1. Review the Horizon Europe Work Programmes (see links below).

2. Identify relevant partners and calls.

3. Download the application form (Faculty-Faculty collaboration or Faculty-Industry collaboration)

4. Access and complete the SimpleSurvey link below to submit your application

Apply now
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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

To advance these outcomes, 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 IMA pilot exceeds the total spots available, the most suitable applicants will be selected based on the above criteria. 

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Helpful Links

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Get Insights from the Inaugural Call

To support your ongoing strategies and help guide your institution’s Horizon Europe engagement, we've put together a one-pager that presents aggregated data from the inaugural IMA call, which ran from August 25 to October 10, 2025. The response was exceptional, resulting in 101 travel grants nationwide. 

Download one-pager
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FAQs

Horizon Europe is the world’s largest research and innovation collaboration program, with a budget of more than $150 billion (€95.5 billion) for the period 2021–2027. Canada is an “associated country” for Pillar II project calls from 2024– 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.

All applications must be submitted by two travellers, either two faculty members or one faculty member and one industry SME representative.

  • Faculty member(s) at all Mitacs-eligible postsecondary institutions and research institutes in Canada. Only full-time faculty at universities and faculty or applied research staff at colleges 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.  
  • Industry Partner Organization: Only for-profit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 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. 

No. Previous recipients are not eligible to receive a second award.

No. Each faculty member may participate in only one application per call, whether as the primary or secondary applicant. If a faculty member is listed on more than one submission, only the highest‑ranked application will be considered. Applicants are encouraged to select the strongest proposal or combine related activities into a single submission. 

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Leveraging Other Mitacs Programs for Horizon Europe and International Collaboration

Mitacs programs can support Canadian researchers and institutions seeking to build and strengthen international collaborations, including participation in Horizon Europe projects and partnerships.

To help introduce how Mitacs programs may support these efforts, the recording and slides from a recent webinar on leveraging Mitacs programs to strengthen global partnerships and engagement with Horizon Europe are available below.

While the IMA supports short-term international research exchanges, other Mitacs programs may also help enable collaboration, mobility, and industry engagement within international research initiatives.

Researchers and institutions exploring Horizon Europe opportunities may wish to consider the following resources and next steps:

  • Connect with National Contact Points (NCPs) to better understand Horizon Europe pillars and identify the most relevant funding pathways.
  • Engage with the Trade Commissioner Service to help identify and connect with potential partners in the EU and Horizon Europe associated countries.
  • Reach out to a Mitacs Advisor to explore how Mitacs programs may support collaboration within a Horizon Europe context or other defined international research pathways.
Watch webinar Download slides
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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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