FAQs

  • An applicant needs to meet the requirements in IPON’s Eligibility By-Law, including:

    • Are an Ontario-based small-and-medium size enterprise with fewer than 500 employees

    • Are in one of the following: health technology, life sciences, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, mining technology, agriculture and food technology, and cleantech. Advanced manufacturing is also applicable if the technology relates to any of the aforementioned sectors.

    • Operates in Ontario and intends to grow the business in Ontario long-term

    • Owns IP or IP rights and intends to commercialize or monetize in Canada

    • Demonstrates the potential to realize societal or economic benefit to Ontario

    • Demonstrates the financial capacity to advance the protection and commercialization of IP and IP rights that may be supported by IPON Client Services

    Note: meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee application approval.

  • IPON’s mandate is to support the development and protection of IP and improve the commercialization outcomes of research and new inventions in Ontario which will help advance our province’s economic growth and competitiveness. The agency’s objects are set out in more detail in Ontario Regulation 4/22.

    As such, only Ontario-based small-and-medium size enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, and researchers can be clients of IPON. An Ontario SME means any company which is constituted, established, or organized under the laws of the federal Parliament of Canada or any provincial or territorial Legislature in Canada; is managed by a team that includes one or more Canadians; has fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees or contractors globally; and has a physical address in Ontario for substantive operations.

  • Applications are open! We also encourage you to follow IPON on X and LinkedIn for news, events and resources.

  • Receipt of applications is confirmed within the application form upon completion. That completion notification page serves as confirmation that IPON has received your application.

  • The timeline will depend on volume of applications and the information provided. All applicants will be contacted with the results of their application once the review is complete. 

  • For the latest information on our services and how to apply, please visit our apply page.

  • Funding is conditional on an approved scope of work which determines the funding amounts. Additional funding calls are also available.  

    Please visit the IPON services page to learn more about IP funding and other services available to clients. 

  • IPON covers up to 80% of eligible costs of an approved statement of work. Funding from IPON can be used for an IP survey, development of an IP strategy, competitive analysis, IP registration, contractual support, and IP-related initial disbursements, conditional on an approved scope of work. Litigation and certain other costs (e.g. taxes, subscriptions, administrative costs) are not eligible for IPON funding. IPON does not cover costs for past work.  

  • IPON funded services must be provided by licensed Ontario-based IP lawyers or registered IP agents. Clients can choose to use their own service providers or select one from IPON's roster of IP service providers. 

  • IPON will provide funding after receipt of an invoice from the client’s service provider for completed work. The invoice must correspond to a statement of work previously approved by IPON. 

  • Persons interested in being on the roster of IP service providers must generally apply in response to a call for expressions of interest. Applicants for the IP service provider roster must be eligible to provide licensed services in Ontario as per Section 24 of Ontario Regulation 4/22, operate from and have their physical office located in Ontario, and demonstrate significant expertise and experience in an industry or sector within which IPON clients operate.

  • Yes! Visit the apply page to submit an application.  

  • IPON is happy to offer free speaking engagements across Ontario. If you’re interested in having an IPON speaker join your upcoming event, please email info@ip-ontario.ca with your inquiry, including information about your event such as the purpose, audience, date and location. We will be sure to respond to your request as soon as we can. 

  • IPON does not offer direct legal services. Instead, IPON is a provincial agency that provides funding to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovators and researchers to acquire and commercialize their IP. 

    Please refer to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) website for relevant information on registering for IP rights and services in Canada. The link provides information on expenses, procedures and agents who can help you.  

    If you are looking to access a variety of IP support and services, such as IP funding and IP education, you can read our eligibility criteria and apply here.