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Taiwan-Canada Talent Cultivation and Training Program (TCTT)

About TCTT

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is dedicated to promoting scientific cooperation and research partnerships between Taiwan and Canada. In support of this objective, NSTC has collaborated with Mitacs to fund the Taiwan–Canada Bilateral Fellowship Program..

The Taiwan-Canada Bilateral Talent Cultivation Program includes the Globalink Research Internship (GRI) and the Globalink Research Award (GRA): 

Globalink Research Internship, GRI

Offers undergraduate students in their third year or above a 12-week research internship, helping them explore future academic and research directions.

Globalink Research Award, GRA

Offers 12–48 week research opportunities for senior undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, and promotes joint research collaboration between scholars in Taiwan and Canada through outbound and inbound mobility.

Mitacs Introduction

Founded in 1999, Mitacs is a national non-profit organization supported by the Canadian government. Its mission is to bridge top research and enterprise needs, facilitating knowledge transfer among universities, enterprises, and government, and help Canadian enterprises to innovate and grow. Mitacs has collaborated with long-term cooperation with 65 universities and over 6,000 enterprises across Canada and globally. Mitacs has grown rapidly over the past 20 years and has accumulated over 34,000 research collaborations to date.

 

Beyond supporting domestic research-industry collaboration in Canada, Mitacs actively builds global partnerships with countries including the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Its mission is to solve global challenges and contribute to social and economic advancement through international research cooperation.

Mitacs Introduction

Expected Outcomes

  • Financial support

    Help cover the cost of living and research abroad, reducing financial pressure and enabling participants to focus on academic research.

  • Participate in outstanding research projects

    Undertake a research internship under the guidance of foreign professors, cultivating critical thinking and research skills while strengthening academic foundations.

  • Expand international academic and career networks

    Collaborate with foreign professors and multicultural research teams, gaining international experience for future studies or careers.

  • Enhance English communication skills

    Practice English in a cross-cultural research environment, improving communication and presentation skills for international settings.

  • Develop a global perspective and cultural adaptability

    Experience life abroad, developing cross-cultural understanding and independence.

GRI

Timeline

 

Application (Aug – Mid Sep): GRI applications open to students worldwide.

 

Matching and decision (Nov – Jan): Applications are reviewed and ranked by professors, and selected students confirm their acceptance.

 

Award notice (Mid Feb): Mitacs issues award letters to successful applicants.

 

Preparation (Mid Feb – Apr): Prepare for your internship abroad including visa, insurance, and accommodation, and submit your NSTC subsidy application.

 

Internship execution (May – Oct): Participate in the GRI internship and submit your report within one month of completion.

Program Details and Eligibility

Application Details

  1. Application period: GRI applications open annually in August. Please refer to the announcement schedule on the Mitacs GRI website for exact dates. 
  2. Submission: Applicants must submit all required documents through the Mitacs Globalink portal.
  3. Internship duration: 12 weeks between May and October of the following year.
  4. Number of seats: Up to 60 participants from Taiwan may be selected each year.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Be a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
  2. Be at least 18 years old at the point of application.
  3. Eligible roles: Applicants must be undergraduate students in their third year or above (having completed at least four semeters) enrolled at a university in Taiwan.  Applicants must maintain active student status during both the application and internship period. *Graduate students are not eligible.
  4. Academic performance: Minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) ≧ 3.3 (77%)
  5. Language proficiency: 
    • TOEFL iBT ≥ 79 or ITP ≥ 550
    • IELTS (Academic) ≥ 6.0
    • TOEIC ≥ 785
  6. Applicants should not have previously been awarded a Globalink Research Internship.

 

Funding

  1. Scholarship support: Up to CAD 12,000 jointly funded by NSTC and Mitacs, which includes payment made to participants (airfare, insurance, stipends) and payments made by Mitacs on behalf of the participant (training, administration, research costs, etc.). *The funds may be subject to taxes and will be withheld in accordance with the regulations of the hosting institution.
  2. Additional funding from NSTC: NSTC supports participants with an additional NTD30,000 funding. Upon receiving the official GRI award letter, interns may apply with the application form, award letter, and enrollment certificate for an additional NTD 30,000 scholarship from the NIAR. *The funding payment will be processed upon arrival at the internship institution and upon obtaining the internship certification signed by the supervising professor.

GRA

Timeline

 

Applicants are advised to apply at least 16 weeks prior to the planned start date. Please consult the Mitacs Advisor in advance, in accordance with the policies of each Canadian university.

 

Mitacs usually takes 10–12 weeks to notify applicants of results. Additional time is required for award disbursement and travel preparations.

 

Applicants are advised to pay attention to the official websites of their intended host institutions (universities), as application opening dates and quota allocation vary by institution. Please refer to the announcements made by each institution for accurate information.

Program Details and Eligibility

Application Details

  1. Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’s academic partners and are subject to available funding. Please check with the Mitacs Advisor in advance, in accordance with the policies of each Canadian university. Applicants are advised to apply at least 16 weeks prior to the planned start date.

  2. Submission: the research project must be jointly developed by intern, the Taiwanese advisor, and the Canadian advisor, and submitted to Mitacs through the local Mitacs Advisor.
  3. Internship duration: Applicants may decide the duration within 12–48 weeks. Can be continuous or split into two segments (12–24 weeks each).
    • $6,000 research award to conduct one 12- to 24-week research project. This is one internship unit (IU).
    • $12,000 research award to conduct one 24- to 48-week research project or two 12- to 24-week research projects. This is two internship units (IUs).
  4. Streams: The program is offered through allocation stream and quantum stream. The main differences between the two are research topics and the  number of seats.
  Allocation stream Quantum stream
Research Topics No specific topic required Must relate to quantum research. 
*Includes but not limited to: Quantum computation (hardware), algorithms, and software – Quantum communication, networks, and cryptography – Quantum metrology, sensing, imaging, and materials.
Quota Canadian universities participating in the GRA program receive a set number of internship units (IU) each year, and each institution manages its own allocation.

No project limit; separate from the university’s allocation quota.

Eligibility and application requirements may vary by institution. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Mitacs Advisor at the Canadian university as early as possible to confirm available internship units and application procedures.

 

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Be at least 18 years old at the point of application.
  2. Eligible roles: Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian institution or eligible international institution and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award. 
  3. Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a PhD program is no more than five years prior to the proposed start date of the research project and they have postdoctoral status at an eligible institution.
  4. Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree.
  5. Cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship.
  6. Cannot hold more than two Globalink Research Award unit per academic lifetime.

For further applications and eligibility details, please visit the Mitacs GRA website.

Funding

  1. The Scholarship includes travel and accommodation support, research expenses, and stipend. *Taxes may be withheld in accordance with the regulations of the host institution.
  2. Internships lasting 12 to 24 weeks: Up to CAD $6,000 in scholarship.
  3. Internships lasting 24 to 48 weeks: Up to CAD $12,000 in scholarship.
  4. The Scholarships are jointly funded by Mitacs and Canadian institutions; funding subject to availability.
  5. Mitacs will forward the GRA funds to the Canadian institution after Award Letter is released to participants. The Canadian institution releases funding to participants in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.
  6. Students may seek additional scholarships to cover extra costs.

 

For any matters not addressed above, applicants should refer to the official Mitacs GRA website and the GRA information provided by their Canadian host institution, as rules and conditions may vary.