Impulse Program by Mila
Empowering the next generation of AI ventures across the country
Impulse by Mila is a new Mila-led initiative that provides Canadian startups with subsidized access to top-tier AI talent.
Over 15 weeks, selected teams will work closely with Mila’s AI experts and PhD students on a focused R&D sprint, designed to accelerate innovation and enhance your research project with cutting-edge machine learning expertise.
How does it work?
For the second cohort, running from February 16 to May 29 2026, five selected startups will benefit from the expertise of Mila researchers to advance one of their research projects. Specifically, participants will receive:
- A dedicated contribution of 20 hours per week from a Mila PhD student.
- Scientific oversight from a member of Mila’s Applied Machine Learning Research Team, through periodic meetings, contributing to the smooth progress of the project and a high level of scientific rigor. More detailed arrangements will be defined at the beginning of the project.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, a company must:
- Be a Mila partner at the time of the project launch
- Be a startup incorporated for less than five years with 50 employees or fewer
- Be legally incorporated in Canada under current federal laws
- Have production and/or research and development activities in Canada
- Present an innovative AI project
Cost and funding support
The initiative is driven by the ambition to spark innovation and accelerate growth across Canada’s vibrant AI ecosystem.
Thanks to public funding, Mila covers nearly 67% of the project costs for all selected startups, reducing each company’s contribution to $9,800 CAD plus taxes.
Key dates
We are now accepting applications for the second cohort of the Impulse program by Mila which will run from February 16 to May 29, 2026.
Call for Projects
October 28 to December 10, 2025
To submit a project:
- If you are a Mila partner, please complete the project proposal form.
- If you are not a partner, you will need to join our partnership program to participate. Please write to us before November 26, 2025, with the subject line: Application to the Impulsion by Mila program. Project proposal forms submitted without prior contact will not be considered.
Announcement of Selected Projects
January 23, 2026
The projects will be evaluated by a scientist from Mila’s applied machine learning research team.
Student Matching
January 26 to February 10, 2026
Our applied research team will select the student best suited to your project from among the applicants.
Project Duration and Closing Event
February 16 to May 29, 2026
Participating organizations will have the opportunity to work on their project over 15 weeks and showcase their startup and connect with key industry leaders at the closing event.
Call for applications
Applications for the second cohort of the Impulse by Mila program are open to Mila partners until December 10, 2025
If you are not a partner, please contact us at partnerships@mila.quebec before November 26, 2025.
FAQ
What are the requirements for the innovative AI project?
Your project must:
- Have a clear and well-defined technical objective or cutting-edge research question.
- Be focused on applied AI (prototyping, model development, proof of concept), rather than simple data collection or cleaning.
- Have sufficient, accessible, and high-quality data for AI application.
- Having access to sufficient computing power to validate the chosen solution.
- Address ethical considerations (if applicable).
What does becoming a Mila partner involve?
Mila is an academic institution specialized in AI that works with 130+ partners and supports them through several services:
- We help our partners recruit talent through our internship and job fairs.
- We collaborate with our partners on research projects.
- We organize multiple scientific events, including advanced reading groups, Tea Talks, a partners’ symposium, and much more.
The partnership entails a separate annual fee. Please write to partenariats@mila.quebec before November 26, 2025 to be considered for participation in this program.
Will we have access to Mila’s computing infrastructure?
No, participating companies will need to have their own computing resources.
Have questions?
For any inquiries regarding the program, feel free to reach out to our team.