FAQs
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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 sectors: MedTech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, and mining and advanced manufacturing as related to 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
Have an Immediate IP need suited for IPON services and IP funding
Are affiliated with a Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) or IPON key partner in Ontario if applying to the Partner Program
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 which IPON program an application has been submitted for and whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria. Check out our apply page and our Eligibility by-law for more information on both.
We will contact all applicants with the results of their application once our review is complete.
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For the latest information on our programs, services and how to apply, please visit our apply page.
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All clients as part of our IP Bootcamp and Partner Program are eligible to receive funding up to $35,000 to subsidize the cost of IP protection and commercialization services, conditional on an approved scope of work. Additional funding calls up to $100,000 are also available.
Please visit our apply page to learn more about our programs, and our services page to learn more about the IP funding service and other available client services.
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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. Past IP-costs that have been incurred are not covered.
Any legal or agency type IP work must be done by an Ontario-based IP lawyer or agent.
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IPON can 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.
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Persons interested in being on the roster of IP service providers or an IP commercialization mentor 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.