is a national initiative designed to strengthen Canada鈥檚 innovation economy by embedding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers within high-growth firms. The program supports advanced research projects that address real-world research and development challenges while helping companies accelerate breakthrough technologies, expand intellectual property, and enhance global competitiveness.
Through TiCAN, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers work directly with Canadian companies on projects in strategic technology sectors, integrating academic research with high-impact industrial applications. The program supports industrial research projects that lead to commercializable technologies in four key sectors: Mobility, Biomanufacturing & Life Sciences, Clean Growth, and Microelectronics & ICT.
The initiative provides up to one year of funding per student for Master鈥檚 students, and up to two years for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
The total annual funding amount is $80,000, including $45,000 from the funding agency and $35,000 from the industry partner. Industry partners are also required to provide a one-time project fee of $10,000 and minimum in-kind contribution of $45,000.
The Vice-Principal Research Economic Development team is available to support researchers interested in hosting TiCAN students, whether they have an industry partner supporting a specific project or are looking at exploring potential industry connections.
Researchers interested in pursuing this opportunity should email their intent to Rajesh Kumar by Monday, May 25, 2026.