Mitacs Entrepreneur International

Overview of the Mitacs Entrepreneur International program:

Mitacs Entrepreneur International offers a travel grant to Canadian start-ups that are housed in an incubator or accelerator linked to an academic institution to connect them with host incubators abroad and explore new business development opportunities in international markets. The Mitacs Entrepreneur International program invites application submissions on a year-round basis.

Benefits of the Mitacs Entrepreneur International program:

• In-kind contributions from the Home or Host Incubators cannot be used towards matching Mitacs funds.
• Economy class air or ground transportation fare to new target market
• Applicants are expected to provide reasonable, economy class return air or ground transportation costs that take advance booking into account. If the amount is deemed excessive, the applicant will be expected to amend their budget to advance booking economy fare estimates.
• Applicants are expected to select direct transit routes between the travellers home base(s) in Canada and the location of travel without any additional stops/destinations. Layovers or stops are acceptable to secure a more economical price.
• Transportation costs in target market country
• Applicants may claim taxi, car rental, train or internal flights for travel to the host incubator and for meetings with existing or potential international investors, clients, partners, suppliers and/or distributors.
• Applicants are expected to select direct routes between the travellers accommodation and the host incubator, and/or to meeting locations.
• Accommodations
• Applicants are expected to provide reasonable costs that take advance booking into account. If the amount is deemed excessive, the applicant will be expected to amend their budget to advance booking estimates.
• Per Diem
• Applicants may claim a per diem for meals and incidentals in accordance with the rates set by the National Joint Council for each day of travel.

Eligibility criteria of the Mitacs Entrepreneur International program:

• To be considered for the travel grant, all applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Be a for-profit company
• Be an incorporated legal entity in Canada
• Be housed for a minimum of three (3) months and maximum of four (4) years in an eligible incubator or accelerator linked to an academic institution (Home Incubator)
• Have planned business travel for full-time employees, founders, or owners with soft-landing at a host incubator in an eligible target market. Applicants must leave from and return to Canada on their trip. Applicants must submit their application a minimum of 4 weeks before their planned travel dates
• The primary applicant contact and all travelling employees must:
• Make the necessary preparations, accommodation arrangements and obtaining the appropriate visas and travel documentation prior to travel
• Conduct eligible activities in accordance with the approved application including: return travel for up to two (2) full-time employees, owners or founders of an eligible applicant, soft-landing at an international host incubator, and participation in meetings/events with key contacts from the approved target market(s) to support their international growth goal
• Travel within the approved travel period to the approved target market(s)
• Adhere to the terms and conditions as set out in the Notice of Approval and Acceptance Form, which they will receive after approval of their application
• Comply with all laws, regulations, guidelines and directives applicable to them with regard to eligible activities in Canada and abroad
• Report any changes to the approved travel plan and dates to Mitacs immediately
• Return ineligible or unspent funds that may result from changes to the travel plan
• Submit financial and final reporting within 30 days of the travel end date
• Maintain proper and accurate accounts and records of the approved travel expenses for a minimum of seven (7) years after the date of completion of the travel period