Scholarship award opportunities of up to $2000 per student are available to students who qualify after successfully completing the Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program. The Douglas Van Graduate Impact Award, named after the generous donor, is available to McGill graduate students in the Faculty of Engineering. The new McGill Engine Impact Award is available to McGill graduate students in any faculty excluding the Faculty of Engineering.
The Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program runs once per semester with a different industry focus per semester: Environment & Materials (Fall 2026), DeepTech (Winter 2027), Health (Spring 2027).
Awards & Eligibility
Douglas Van Graduate Impact Award
These awards are called the Douglas Van Graduate Impact Award, after the generous donor. These awards are available to McGill’s Faculty of Engineering graduate students who successfully complete the Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program.
McGill Engine Impact Award
These awards are available to all McGill graduate students, excluding those in the Faculty of Engineering, who successfully complete the Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program.
Important Dates: Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2026, 11:59PM ET |
Idea to Impact: Environment & Materials project application deadline. Idea to Impact: DeepTech will run during Winter27 Semester |
|
September 16, 2026 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised. |
| September 23, 2026 - December 16, 2026 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). There will be no class on October 14th for reading week. |
Areas of Focus
Environment & Materials
Projects submitted to Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program: Environment & Materials should be related to environment, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, chemical, energy, mining and materials, climate, and/or sustainability.
Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2026, 11:59PM ET | Application deadline. Apply here. |
|
September 16, 2026 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| September 23, 2026 - December 9, 2026 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). There will be no class on October 14th for reading week. |
DeepTech
Projects submitted to Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program: DeepTech should be related to robotics, cyber security, cloud computing/infrastructure, data science, AI development, nanotechnology, Web 4.0/5.0, software, and/or computer vision.
Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| November 18, 2026 |
Call for Idea to Impact: DeepTech applications open. |
| January 4, 2027, 11:59PM ET | Application deadline. |
|
January 13, 2027 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| January 27, 2027 - April 14, 2027 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). There will be no class on March 3rd for reading week. |
Health
Projects submitted to Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program: Health should be related to health care, biotech, medtech, pharmaceuticals, life tech, education innovation, holistic healthcare, and/or life sciences.
Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| March 7, 2027 |
Call for Idea to Impact: Health applications open. |
| April 11, 2027, 11:59PM ET | Application deadline. |
|
April 26, 2027 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| May 5, 2027 - July 21, 2027 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). |
