FAQs
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An applicant needs to meet the requirements in IPON’s Eligibility By-Law and sector requirements, including:
Are an Ontario-based small or medium-sized 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.
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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.
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Receipt of applications is confirmed within the application form upon completion. That completion notification page serves as confirmation that IPON has received your application.
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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.
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Eligible clients in Tier 2 can apply for funding at any time, as long as they have completed their mandatory learning prerequisites and IPON funding is available.
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For the latest information on our services and how to apply, please visit our services page.
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Funding is conditional on an approved scope of work and available IPON funding. Eligible clients in Tier 2 can access up to $100,000 per year, with a lifetime cap of $300,000. Clients from equity-deserving groups can access an additional $25,000 per year.
Please visit the IPON services page to learn more about IP funding and other services available to clients.
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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, IP registration, contractual support, and IP-related initial disbursements, conditional on an approved scope of work. Litigation and certain other costs (such as taxes, subscriptions, administrative costs, etc.) are not eligible for IPON funding. IPON does not cover costs for past work.
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IPON funded services must be provided by licensed Ontario-based IP lawyers or registered IP agents on IPON’s Service Provider Roster. Clients can request names of service providers based on their IP needs.
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After the client has paid their contribution (at least 20% + all applicable taxes) and IPON has received an invoice from the client’s service provider with confirmation of the client’s payment, IPON will validate the invoice with the previously approved scope of work. IPON will then issue payment of its co-share directly to the service provider
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To advance to Tier 2 and access funding, clients must complete an Assessment Form to demonstrate their company’s IP readiness and advanced business stage. Clients with updates may resubmit an Assessment Form.
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IP Professionals eligible to provide licensed services as per Section 24 of Ontario Regulation 4/22, and who operate (and bill) from a physical office located in Ontario are welcome to apply to IPON’s Service Provider Roster.
IP Professionals interested in becoming a rostered Service Provider can register via the IPON Portal - Home, and simply navigate to the Service Provider tab and click ‘Apply’. NOTE: It is important that each IP Professional, when applying to become a rostered Service Provider, use their own email, as this is the email that will be linked to their Service Provider account and profile.
Please note that rostered Service Providers must belong to a firm that has signed a Contractor Agreement (one per firm). During the application phase, if our review indicates that your firm does not have an active Contractor Agreement in place with IPON, we will contact you and provide further instructions.
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Yes! Visit the IPON Portal to submit an application.
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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.
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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.