Connect Canada is a new internship program that links graduate students and Canadian companies for research placements. Regardless of the issue, the sector or the location, Connect Canada internships can help companies find a cost-effective solution developed by highly skilled graduate students under the supervision of an academic supervisor. For graduate students, it provides a pathway to further develop their research skills, while gaining valuable industry experience and contacts. For the academic supervisor, the stipend is considered a part of their research funding and provides an opportunity to make contact with various industrial partners.

The categories of research that can be performed through this program fall into the following categories:  natural science, engineering, economy, social science, health, environment and ethics. Each internship is four-to-six months and is completed by a graduate student at the master’s, PhD or post-doctoral fellow level.

Connect Canada internships are funded by $5,000 from the company, which is matched by Connect Canada for a total intern stipend of $10,000 for the entire internship. The Connect Canada Internship program is funded by the Industrial Research-Development Internship (IRDI) program through the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE).  

 As a research award recipient, you will undertake a one-year paid program of research on the topic you submitted when competing for the award. During part of the time (often around 50%), you will be trained in research management through hands-on experience with your chosen program. You will work under the mentorship of a program officer