AI Talent Program

AI Talent is a joint program by IVADO and Confiance IA that supports up to 10 Quebec-based companies with fewer than 500 employees in adopting responsible and ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) practices. This program also offers 10 graduate students the opportunity to complete a paid 4-month internship at these companies, contributing to innovative, trustworthy AI projects.

The Quebec-based companies that will participate in this program will have the opportunity to work with a graduate-level intern (Master’s or PhD) to advance a trustworthy AI innovation project. The students who participate in this program will complete an internship to gain hands-on experience in a business setting and explore new career opportunities.

The program aims to advance responsible AI practices within Quebec-based companies.

The selected projects must demonstrate their ability to support and enhance the integration of trusted AI technologies.

The program also aims to connect companies with emerging talent through collaboration with an intern from the academic ecosystem.

As a guideline, and not an exhaustive list, here are some examples of themes that could be addressed:

• Strengthen the capacity of Quebec-based companies to adopt responsible AI: Implement AI practices that align with ethical and normative standards.
• Accelerate the implementation of legal and regulatory frameworks: Support the adoption of data protection laws and sector-specific regulations.
• Ensure the security of AI systems
• Promote the development and integration of ethical frameworks: Facilitate the adoption of ethical guidelines and best practices related to transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI.
• Encourage the sustainability of AI models: Advocate for frugal and sustainable AI approaches that optimize computational resources and reduce the environmental footprint of AI models developed by companies.

• January 7, 2025 to February 16, 2025 at midnight: Call for internship projects from Quebec-based companies
• February 17 to February 23, 2025: Selection of projects
• February 24 to March 23, 2025: Publication of internship offers and selection of interns
• Starting February 24: Beginning of the preparation period and submission of Mitacs applications
• Starting May 2025: Start of internships

This is a 4-month full-time internship program.

A maximum of ten stipends of at least $10,000 will be awarded to interns. Internships can start as early as May. The official start date is dependent on Mitacs approval. We are not responsible for these delays.

A maximum contribution of $7,500 + taxes (i.e., 50% of the cost) is required from participating companies. This contribution will be invoiced by Mitacs and must be paid before the start of the internship. Any delay in the payment of the contribution will delay the start of the internship accordingly.

For the partner company:

• Have fewer than 500 employees;
• Have an active R&D team involved in the submitted project;
• Dedicate at least one qualified person to supervise the intern (the success of the project should not solely depend on the intern);
• Be able to pay a contribution of up to $7,500 + taxes upon receipt by Mitacs before the start of the internship.

Reminder: The internship will not be approved and cannot begin before the payment of the invoice. This is a determining factor in the completion of the internship and its start date. No exceptions are allowed.

For the intern:

• Be enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program at a university in Quebec.
• If necessary, register the internship as part of their academic program. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the necessary administrative steps to include the internship in their academic curriculum.
• If necessary, submit their application by following the process required by their home university.

For the partner company: 

Fill out and submit this form by February 16, 2025, at midnight. Any incomplete submission or submission sent via any means other than the form will be automatically rejected.

A committee will evaluate the applications and make the selection primarily based on compliance with the eligibility criteria, the quality of the proposed internship project, and the project’s impact on the company. The evaluation committee will be multidisciplinary and adhere to principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

For the intern: 

The list of available internships and information related to each application process will be available in the “Selected R&D Projects” section below. You can express your interest in participating in the program at any time by filling out this form.

Note on intellectual property for the collaboration between the company and the intern:

• The terms can be negotiated with the intern’s home university on a case-by-case basis, depending on the selected projects.
• A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed between the intern and the company.

Coming soon

For the interns:

• Demonstrate integrity and respect in all aspects of your collaboration with the partner company;
• Adhere to the terms of the internship and work towards achieving the objectives and deliverables to the best of your abilities;
• Acknowledge IVADO and Confiance IA in any public communications related to the internship and, when possible, participate in IVADO’s student activities.

For the companies:

• Adhere to EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) principles in the selection of applications, in accordance with IVADO’s EDI framework;
• Review IVADO’s guide on unconscious bias in recruitment;
• Provide a financial contribution by paying the Mitacs invoice before the internship begins;
• Provide a work environment and infrastructure that enables the smooth execution and completion of the project;
• Demonstrate integrity and respect in all aspects of your collaboration with the intern;
• Be available throughout the process leading to the submission of the Mitacs application (some meetings and email exchanges are expected);
• Complete the short feedback survey sent by IVADO at the end of the internship;
• Acknowledge IVADO and Confiance IA in any public communications related to the intern’s work.

IVADO and Confiance IA’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI):

• To ensure that all members of society equally benefit from advancements in knowledge and opportunities, IVADO and Confiance IA promote the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all of their programs. IVADO and Confiance IA are committed to providing an inclusive, non-discriminatory, open, and transparent recruitment process and research framework.