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Intellectual Property Funding Support for Companies in Ontario

March 18, 2024

Strategic Intellectual Property (IP) management is an important factor in a company’s success.  Protecting IP can help attract investors, fend of competitors, and expand your market. 

The biggest hurdles for companies, especially startups, when it comes to IP management is the combination of knowledge gaps, financial constraints, and legal complexities. 

Rowand LLP has partnered with a number of federally or provincially funded organizations to help bridge these gaps for companies in Ontario.  Through these partnerships, we are available to help develop and implement effective IP strategies in an attempt to help your business succeed.

ElevateIP (Communitech)

ElevateIP is a federally funded, nationwide project designed to provide the tools companies need to understand, strategically manage, and leverage their intellectual property.  Communitech is the national delivery partner for ElevateIP in Ontario.

You can apply for ElevateIP programming if:

• Your startup has fewer than 500 employees and is a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation
• Your corporate headquarters for your business is in Ontario
• You are looking to hold IP ownership in the name of your organization
• ElevateIP offers support of up to $100,000 to develop and implement your IP strategy.

Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON)

The Government of Ontario created Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) to provide IP support and services to help businesses innovate and grow.

You can apply for IPON programming if:

• You are an Ontario-based small-and-medium size enterprise with fewer than 500 employees 
• You are in one of the following: MedTech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, and mining and advanced manufacturing as related to the aforementioned sectors
• You operate in Ontario and intend to grow the business in Ontario long-term 
• You own IP or are an exclusive licensee and intend to commercialize or monetize in Canada 
• You demonstrate the potential to realize societal or economic benefit to Ontario 
• You demonstrate the financial capacity to advance the protection and commercialization of IP and IP rights that may be supported by IPON Client Services  
• You have an immediate IP need suited for IPON services and IP funding 
• You are affiliated with a Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) or IPON key partner in Ontario if applying to the Partner Program 

IPON offers support up to $100,000 to develop and implement your IP strategy.

Please feel free to contact us or any of our partners to learn more about these programs.