Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises

The Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises provides financial assistance to innovative Canadian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the hiring of post-secondary graduates to work on innovation projects in these companies.

Eligibility Criteria

SMEs
To be eligible for this program, your business must:

• be a small or medium enterprise with less than 500 employees;
• be incorporated and for profit;
• wish to enhance its innovation capability;
• be willing to establish a trusting relationship with NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

Graduates
To be eligible for this program, a graduate must be:

• a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada;
• between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive);
• a post-secondary graduate;
• not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits;
• a first-time youth participant in a placement of the Career Focus Program of the Youth Employment Strategy (YES);
• legally entitled to work according to relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.

Summary

The Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises provides financial assistance to innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Canada to hire post-secondary science, engineering, technology, business and liberal arts graduates. Graduates work on innovative projects within the SME and may participate in research, development and commercialization of technologies. In some cases, SMEs may be collaborating with a National Research Council (NRC) institute or with Industry Canada's Communications Research Centre (CRC).

Benefits
As an SME, you will receive financial support towards the employment of post-secondary graduates who will work on technical opportunities in your business and on non-technical, but technology-related projects, such as:

• research and development, engineering, multi-media;
• development of new products and processes;
• market analysis for a new technology-based product;
• business development related to science and technology activities;
• improvement of customer services, etc.

Graduates will gain valuable work experience that will help open the doors to future employment. Hence, the program will facilitate the transition of highly skilled young people to a rapidly changing labour market.

What is the process?
The entrepreneur and an NRC-IRAP Industrial Technology Advisor will develop and submit a project proposal.

Internships last between six to twelve months and are available anywhere in Canada. NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program is responsible for delivering the program through its 235 Industrial Technology Advisors located in over 90 communities from coast to coast.

The maximum support provided will be $15 000 to help cover a part of the graduate's salary. As an SME, you are responsible for covering other expenses, such as fringe benefits and overhead costs.

How to Apply
SMEs
SMEs may contact the nearest NRC-IRAP office by calling the toll free number.

Post-Secondary Graduates
Post-secondary graduates may apply by using campus recruitment offices, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) regional offices, Internet job search sites or by contacting SMEs directly.

The program is in effect until March 31^st, 2008.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program
National Research Council Canada
1411 Oxford Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3H 3Z1
Telephone: 902-426-3138
Fax: 902-426-1624
Toll-free (information): 1-877-994-4727
Web site: http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/main_e.html

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National Contact(s):
General Inquiries
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program
National Research Council Canada
Building M55, Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0R6
Fax: 613-952-1086
Toll-free (information): 1-877-994-4727
E-mail: publicinquiries.irap-pari@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/main_e.html