As Canada doubles down on fostering homegrown innovation, protecting intellectual property (IP) has never been more critical for Canadian startups and small businesses. Whether you’re developing a breakthrough technology or launching a new product, your IP is a vital business asset—and Caravel Law is here to support Canadian innovation and help you safeguard it at every stage of your growth.
At Caravel, we understand that legal support should evolve alongside your business. That’s why we partner with key national and regional IP funding initiatives to help Canadian companies build strong IP strategies and access the support they need to grow confidently and competitively.
IP Funding Programs for Canadian Innovation
Thanks to a range of government-backed programs, Canadian companies now have increased access to IP funding and expertise. Here’s how these initiatives—many of which Caravel Law is actively partnered with—can help you with your Canadian innovation:
ElevateIP: Canada-Wide IP Strategy Support
Part of a $90M federal investment, ElevateIP helps startups develop and implement smart IP strategies through partnerships with regional accelerators and incubators. Eligible businesses can access up to $100,000 CAD in IP services. Regional hubs include:
- Communitech (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
- Springboard Atlantic (Atlantic Canada)
- MAIN / MomentumPI (Quebec)
- University of Calgary and Innovate Calgary (Alberta)
- New Ventures BC (British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories)
ElevateIP helps in three key areas: IP Education and Awareness, IP Strategy Development and IP Strategy Implementation.
To be eligible for ElevateIP, you must be a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC) with less than 500 employees, own the IP that you want to protect, and be headquartered in one of the provinces or territories covered by one of the ElevateIP recipients. ElevateIP recipients are organizations that have been selected by the federal government to provide IP supports to startups across Canada. ElevateIP has several regional recipients, including Communitech, Springboard Atlantic, MAIN, the University of Calgary, and New Ventures BC.
Through ElevateIP and their Canada-wide partners, eligible businesses have the opportunity to access up to $100,000 CAD worth of IP support services to develop and/or implement an IP strategy. You can contact the ElevateIP recipient that covers your region or visit the Innovation Canada website to learn more about the service and how to apply.
IP Assist (NRC IRAP & IPIC)
IP Assist is a service run by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) on behalf of the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). IP Assist offers a range of targeted IP services to help you transform your innovations into valuable assets and safeguard them from competitors. The main goals of IP Assist are to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with three tiers of IP needs.
The levels are broken down as follows:
Level 1, Awareness: Provides your business with access to IP advisors, resources, and partner organizations so you can increase your knowledge of IP best practices and better understand how to leverage and safeguard your innovations.
Level 2, Strategy: Provides you with access to IP experts who can assist you in developing an IP strategy to support your business goals, help you prioritize IP actions, and provide you with valuable insight related to your technology, competitors, and the IP landscape.
Level 3, Action: Provides funding to help your business execute the actions prioritized in your IP strategy, such as filing patent applications, conducting IP audits, or licensing IP.
IP Assist is a valuable IP funding resource for Canadian businesses. You can contact your NRC IRAP industrial technology advisor or the IPIC office for more information on the program, eligibility, and access to funding.
IPON (Intellectual Property Ontario)
IPON is a service offered by the Ontario government to help innovators, businesses, and researchers at various stages of their IP journey. IPON offers a range of funding for participating businesses that range from an initial $35,000 for clients in their IP Bootcamp and Partner Program and up to a potential additional $100,000 in IP funding. IPON’s website offers detailed information about their funding opportunities and eligibility for these opportunities.
IPON offers three types of support:
IP Education: Provides you with online and in-person learning opportunities, such as webinars, workshops, courses, and events, to help you build your IP knowledge and skills.
IP Funding: Provides you with financial assistance to help you secure and maintain your IP rights, such as filing patent applications, conducting prior art searches, or obtaining IP opinions. As part of the program, you can apply this funding to an IP service provider of your choice or refer to IPON’s list of vetted IP lawyers and registered IP agents.
IP Mentorship: Provides you with access to IP mentors who can guide you through the IP process, provide you with feedback and advice, and connect you with relevant IP resources and networks.
To be eligible for IPON, you must be an Ontario-based innovator, business, or researcher with an innovative idea, product, or service that has IP potential. You can apply for IPON through the online portal or contact the IPON team to learn more about the service and its requirements.
Your Growth Partner from Day One
We believe that Canadian businesses deserve legal partners who truly understand their journey. Whether you’re building your first product or preparing for a global launch, Caravel is with you—offering:
- Tailored IP strategy and execution
- Deep knowledge of government-funded IP programs
- A streamlined, tech-forward experience using tools like Harvey AI, Athennian, and Rally
Caravel has already partnered with some of these initiatives to provide IP support from our specialists to businesses across Canada. While you will need to go directly to these various institutions to confirm your eligibility as a business, once your funding and support have been arranged, you can connect with experts like those at Caravel to access resources for your various IP needs.
For more information on how Caravel can support you with your IP needs, either on your own or through one of the above initiatives, get in touch with us today!