Ottawa commits up to $162 million for 10,000 AI work placements

The federal government is committing up to $162 million over five years to Mitacs for 10,000 co-funded work placements related to artificial intelligence.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced the funding September 25. The placements are expected to begin in 2026–27 and are intended for post-secondary students, recent graduates and postdoctoral researchers working with employers and research organizations.

The release describes two streams: ADOPT, focused on applying AI tools within organizations, and AI+X, which pairs AI with other fields. The announcement does not guarantee a placement to every applicant, and access will depend on Mitacs program rules and participating partners.

For Montréal’s universities, colleges and technology employers, the national program could create another channel for applied research placements. Specific local allocations were not included in the announcement.

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, published September 25, 2026.

Illustrative stock image: Terrillo Walls / Unsplash Licence. The person pictured is not identified with the Mitacs program. WordPress may crop or resize the image for display.