The federal and provincial governments offer substantial contributions to eligible companies to offset their costs in Intellectual Property. Typically, these include a three-step program offering funding at each step. We at Perpetual Motion Patents can help you apply for these competitive programs. See how to secure funding for your business.
Background
Protecting a business’s tangible assets is a no-brainer. But what about Intellectual property (IP)? Any investor would say that it is just as important. Data shows that more than 50% of businesses that owned IP credited it with improving their success in some capacity*.
IP assets can include patents, trademarks (TM), trade secrets (TS), copyright, design rights, data, open source, etc. Picking what’s relevant to the company is important. Understanding how to navigate the whole process is equally important. However, the complexity of the procedure and the associated financial costs may discourage some companies from protecting their IP assets.
Enter government contributions
To combat this issue and to encourage growth of Canadian businesses, the federal and provincial governments have put forth various funding programs. AccelerateIP and IRAP IP Assist are two major government funding programs that offer parallel services for eligible organizations. For example, SME’s with fewer than 500 employees can receive up to $100,000 (with a certain % of co-pay) for 1. IP Education, 2. Planning and 3. Implementation. Companies may mix-and-match the contributions offered by both programs to maximize benefits.
The three-step approach
- IP education. The AccelerateIP program introduced a free online program called IP Pathways to equip startups and others, with the fundamentals of IP. In 2025, the program held or announced seven cohorts. If an online course is not your thing, registered service providers can deliver a two-hour education session free-of-charge which is equivalent to the IP pathways program.
- Create an IP plan. Completion of Step 1 (a.k.a. Stream/Level 1) unlocks funding for Step 2 (a.k.a. Stream/Level 2) to develop an IP plan. Our advice is to treat this step as an opportunity to prepare for Step 3. Some companies treat Step 2 as a hurdle to jump over to get to Step 3 quickly. They soon discover that doing so decreases their chances of getting funding.
- Implement the IP plan. Completion of Step 2 unlocks even more funding for Step 3 (a.k.a. Stream/Level 3) for legal costs associated with drafting, filing and prosecution of patents, TM’s, etc. A strong IP plan is required to be eligible for Step 3. Companies can hire registered service providers for assistance with each step. Perpetual Motion Patents is a registered service provider for both Accelerate IP and IP Assist programs.
Ask for what you want
Not every company needs to get a patent. In your Stream 2 application, request funding for what you want to in your IP plan. However, don’t run the risk of a low-effort proposal either. Read the program guidelines to align your application with the program’s priorities. Accelerate IP program prioritizes applicants who can demonstrate their involvement in Healthtech, Cleantech and Datatech. IP Assist prioritizes companies focused on innovation with demonstrable need for IP protection.
Case study: A tail of two applicants
Company X makes innovative products used in recreational sports. In their AccelerateIP Stream 2 application for an IP plan, they asked for a minimum amount of funding for a basic IP landscape report. Their intention was to fast track to Stream 3 in order to get funding for filing their patents. On the other hand, company Y provides data analytics to sports teams. In their Stream 2 application, company Y requested funding for an IP plan which includes a few key IP assets relevant to their business. Furthermore, Company Y demonstrated in their application they were aligned with one of the priority areas set out in the program guidelines. Also, they articulated their desire to increase sales protected by the IP assets for which they were seeking funding. Who do you think got the funding? If you chose company Y, then you get what we mean.
When to apply?
AccelerateIP program is now accepting Stream 2.2 and Stream 3 applications. The deadline to apply is May 29, 2025. But don’t wait until the last day to apply. A strong application makes all the difference. Be prepared to answer the questions with ties back to the company’s IP and business plan. Demonstrate the need for the proposed work and funding.
Conclusion
We encourage companies to make use of these generous programs. Even if your business is not directly involved in a priority sector, there are ways to make your application attractive to funders. We offer grant writing services tailored to each company to increase your chances of success. Please contact us at info@perpetualpatents.com.
References
- *Intellectual Property Awareness and Use Survey, 2019, Statistics Canada, URL: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210218/dq210218b-eng.htm
- AccelerateIP by New Ventures B.C.: https://www.newventuresbc.com/accelerateip/
- Program guide, URL: https://www.accelerateip.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AccelerateIP-Program-Guideline-Nov-2024.pdf
- IP Pathways, URL: https://www.newventuresbc.com/2024/11/ip-pathways-ip-certification-program/
- IRAP/IP Assist by the National Research Council, URL: https://ipic.ca/resources/ip-assist-non-members
