IP Advisory

Meet with one of our IP Advisors for 1:1 advisory support. This service includes:

• Support to help prioritize what aspects of IP to focus on given your stage and sector.
• Review and plan your IP Strategy and how your innovations can be transformed into valuable IP assets or explore options like employment contracts and open-source software licenses.
• Access to subject matter experts for IP assessments and referrals to IP professionals for IP strategy development.
• Recommendations for educational resources to help you further understand your IP requirements and priorities.
• Advisory information on the next steps for your IP, including applying for grants from one of Invest Ottawa’s programs.

IP Funding

• Our IP team and advisors can help you navigate the various funding programs available in Ontario, including ElevateIP, IP Assist and IPON.
• Help prioritize the appropriate funding to apply for, including recommending you apply for ElevateIP funding directly via Invest Ottawa
• For other IP programs, assist with the application process and endorse your application as an official referral partner for IP Assist and IPON.
• Strategically help you maximize the IP funding for your firm over time, which could be in excess of $100,000 for firms if they utilize all eligible programs (although typically $10,000-$35,000).
• Funding can be applied to a number of activities, including:
  • Competitive landscape brief to analyze scientific or technological trends and make go/no-go decisions on new market opportunities, new products, and competitive risk.
  • IP strategy development including an IP strategy laying out your firms go-forward long-term IP plan, including patent, trademark, licensing and trade secret strategies and searches.
  • IP asset creations, including patent applications, trademark application, out-licensing agreements, copyright registration, and more.

Interested? Contact your Client Experience Coordinator or email [email protected].

Marketing

Protect your brand. Include your
company’s trademarks in your marketing material.

Sales

A unique IP can be a strong advantage
for differentiating products from competition as it makes it harder for competitors to copy their products.

HR

Confidentiality and IP ownership
agreements with employees so the company owns the IP they developed.

Accounting

The expenses for IP can be accrued.

Revenue Generation

Patents can be licensed to other
companies and can generate additional
revenue. Patents can also increase
the value of an exit.

Investment

Ownership of IP property can represent
a plus for an investor.

ElevateIP

ElevateIP is designed to support the improvement of IP Knowledge, the development of IP Strategy, and the creation of IP assets for startups in Eastern Ontario.

Invest Ottawa, Launch Lab, and Spark Centre are collaborating with Communitech and ISED to deliver a 3-tiered program:

• Tier 1: IP Education through training sessions, workshops, and online resources.
• Tier 2: IP Strategy development including patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews, and more.
• Tier 3: IP Creation such as patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, Open-Source audits, and more.

Get the support and services your business needs to assist in understanding and managing your company’s intellectual property.

Am I eligible to apply?

You can apply if:

• You’re a Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) which owns or has exclusive rights to the IP looking to be protected;
• Your company is headquartered in Eastern-Ontario;
• Your company has less than 500 full-time employees;

Note: eligibility does not require your company to be an Invest Ottawa client.

Get started with Elevate IP →

IP Assist (delivered by Invest Ottawa)

IP Assist, an IRAP funded program, is available to companies to increase their IP knowledge and to better understand the threats and opportunities specific to their innovation and business. This program is structured into two steps:

• Level 1 – IP Education: receive 2 hours with an IP Professional to better understand IP and what role IP can play in transforming your innovation into valuable IP assets.
• Level 2 – Robust IP Strategy Up to $18k in funding to provide your company with an analysis of the technical and competitive landscape of your innovation along with providing a prioritized IP action plan that will support your company in making go/no-go decisions on new market opportunities, new products, and competitive risk.

To access this program, you must be an existing IRAP client with an ITA assigned.

Get started with IP Assist →

IPON

Run by the province, Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) is focused on six subsectors with its IP support – MedTech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, and mining and advanced manufacturing.

IPON has three streams to apply: Bootcamp, Referrals (through RICs like Invest Ottawa), and Self-Guided.

Visit IPON’s application page to review eligibility requirements. If this program is a better fit for your team, Invest Ottawa can make referrals to the IPON team.

You can learn more about IPON here →

IO Flex

Be a part of an enterprising Community.

Learn More →

IO Accelerator

The fast track to success – for companies that are ready.

Learn More →

IO ScaleUp

Tip the balance in your favour.

Learn More →