New Delhi [India], August 5 (ANI): In a major step towards strengthening global academic collaboration and creating international research opportunities for Indian students, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on Wednesday officially launched the AICTE-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) 2027 programme.
The launch was inaugurated by Chairman, AICTE, Yogesh Singh, marking the opening of applications for one of the world’s most prestigious undergraduate international research internship programmes.
The launch follows the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between AICTE and Mitacs, Canada, under which up to 300 eligible Indian undergraduate students every year, for a period of three years beginning in 2027, will receive fully funded opportunities to undertake 12-week research internships at leading Canadian universities.
The initiative traces its origin to the official visit of The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, to India this year at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the bilateral discussions, both leaders reaffirmed the importance of education, research collaboration and talent mobility as key pillars of the India-Canada partnership.
Recognising that the movement of students, researchers and professionals has strengthened innovation ecosystems and economic growth in both countries, the two Prime Ministers agreed to deepen cooperation in higher education by promoting industry-aligned skills, expanding joint and dual-degree programmes, facilitating offshore campuses of leading Canadian institutions in India, strengthening research partnerships in emerging technologies, and revitalising the India-Canada Joint Working Group on Higher Education.
As part of these shared commitments, the leaders welcomed the AICTE-Mitacs partnership to expand the Globalink Research Internship (GRI) programme, enabling approximately 300 Indian undergraduate students annually to undertake research placements at Canadian universities while strengthening institutional collaborations, academic excellence and future-ready skills.
The Globalink Research Internship (GRI) is a highly competitive, fully funded international programme that offers talented undergraduate students an opportunity to work under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members across a wide spectrum of disciplines including engineering, computer science, physical sciences, life sciences, mathematics, business, social sciences, arts and humanities.
The internships are conducted in person over 12 consecutive weeks between May and October, providing students with hands-on research experience, exposure to world-class laboratories, international mentorship, multicultural learning environments and professional development opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, Yogesh Singh, Chairman, AICTE, said, “India’s demographic dividend can become a global innovation dividend only when our students are provided opportunities to learn, research and collaborate beyond geographical boundaries. The AICTE-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship is a transformational initiative that will empower talented Indian students to work with leading researchers in Canada, gain exposure to cutting-edge research ecosystems and develop global competencies essential for the knowledge economy.”
Applications for the GRI 2027 programme open on August 5, 2026 and will remain open until 16 September 2026. Eligible students will subsequently undergo a rigorous screening, matching and selection process before being placed with faculty members at participating Canadian universities. The internships will take place between May and October 2027, with successful participants receiving comprehensive pre-departure support and orientation before travelling to Canada.
To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or integrated undergraduate-master’s programme, have completed at least two years of undergraduate study (or be in the second year) at the time of application, demonstrate proficiency in English and/or French as required by the selected research project, and apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of ten research projects across at least three different Canadian provinces.
The AICTE-Mitacs partnership represents a significant milestone in India’s international higher education engagement and aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisions increased global collaborations, academic mobility, research excellence and multidisciplinary education.
By providing Indian students access to internationally renowned research institutions, the initiative will nurture globally competent researchers, strengthen bilateral academic partnerships and contribute to building a future-ready innovation ecosystem for both India and Canada.
Students are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility requirements and application guidelines before submitting their applications through the official AICTE-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship portal. (ANI)
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