Our Mandate

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

An important part of 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 launch marks a critical step forward in developing Ontario’s IP landscape and will help advance Ontarians’ abilities to compete in the knowledge-based economy, and support job creation to build a stronger and more competitive province. IPON’s objects are set out in more detail in Ontario Regulation 4/22.

Supporting Innovation Within Ontario’s Postsecondary Sector

On January 14, 2022, the Ontario government introduced the Commercialization Mandate Policy Framework (CMPF), to help publicly assisted colleges and universities move towards the shared goal of ensuring that “made-in-Ontario” research and innovation benefits Ontarians.   
 
As part of this initiative, IPON reviewed the Annual Commercialization Plans (ACP) submitted by 23 colleges and 19 universities within Ontario and has submitted a report to the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities summarizing the sector’s overall progress. In this report, IPON provides key observations and recommendations to improve innovation and commercialization at the postsecondary level.

Read IPON’s Annual Commercialization Plans Report.

In support of the CMPF, on April 20, 2023, Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) announced that it will be providing $2 million in funding for seven projects proposed by ten postsecondary institutions across the province to enhance commercialization efforts and drive economic growth. Additionally, IPON is leading a joint working group with several postsecondary leaders to identify a common set of commercialization metrics and reporting standards to be included in future ACPs. 

SPRING 2019 Expert Panel on IP appointed
WINTER 2020 Expert Panel Report published
SUMMER 2020 IP Action Plan launched by MCU and MEDJCT
SPRING 2021 Special Implementation Team on IP formed to support Implementation of the IP Action Plan
SUMMER 2021 Special Advisor on the Establishment of a Centralized Resource Entity for IP appointed
WINTER 2022 IPON established through Ontario Regulation 4/22
SPRING 2022 Board appointed and agency operationalization begins
FALL 2022 Launch of first services

  • "Ontario has become a leader in Canada for raising awareness and building capacity for the IP and data driven economy. Expert-led public institutions that support key stakeholders in navigating both the challenges and opportunities of intangible assets are a critical pillar of smart digital policy."

    - Jim Balsillie, Chair of Expert Panel on Intellectual Property Ontario, and Chair and Co-founder of Council of Canadian Innovators

  • "Communitech is very pleased to see the establishment of Intellectual Property Ontario. The agency will help Ontario's founders and innovators access the tools and services they need to compete and win in the intangibles economy."

    - Matthew Bondy, Vice-President of External Relations, Communitech

  • “This new initiative is taking a systematic approach to help ensure Ontario has the IP support it needs to grow and create jobs. Universities look forward to continuing to partner to foster the commercialization of IP for the benefit of all Ontarians.”

    - Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities

  • "As a key pillar in the federal government's first ever IP strategy, the Innovation Asset Collection (IAC) is focused on building capacity for the global innovation economy. As we work with Canada’s innovators to help them better understand, commercialize and protect their IP, we welcome organizations like Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) who are focused on amplifying this work provincially. We look forward to collaborating on our mutual objectives of supporting the success of Canada's innovators."

    - Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective

  • “The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) is delighted to welcome Intellectual Property Ontario to the innovation ecosystem. OCI has worked with innovative technology companies for more than three decades and we understand Ontario’s global competitive advantage is linked with the ability to foster, commercialize, and protect made-in-Ontario intellectual property. We look forward to working with IPON to further support efforts to enable future investment, partnerships and growth opportunities for Ontario’s technology companies”

    – Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation

  • “We look forward to working with Intellectual Property Ontario to enhance the successful real-world research at Ontario’s colleges, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that often don’t have the resources to conduct their own research. Our research partnerships with businesses stimulate innovation, create new jobs and will be essential to Ontario’s economic recovery.”

    - Linda Franklin, President and CEO, Colleges Ontario

  • “eCampus Ontario celebrates this transformational announcement for intellectual property in Ontario. We are pleased to support initiatives that help Ontarians develop the essential skills they need to bring to life their innovative ideas and the tools to bring them to market.”

    - Dr. Robert Luke, CEO, eCampusOntario

  • “Ontario hosts world-class institutions and a well-regarded network of innovation intermediaries yet productivity levels are stagnating. Intellectual Property Ontario is an agency critical for helping boost the province's prosperity by supporting innovators and businesses to capitalize on their IP and succeed in the global economy."

    - Dan Herman, Special Advisor to Government of Ontario and Board Member, Intellectual Property Ontario