Intellectual Property and Canada’s Innovation Agenda

Intellectual property is a fundamental element in the growth of innovative companies. In essence, entrepreneurs learn about IP, identify the intellectual property that they create or acquire, seek protection for that IP (e.g. in the form of a registered trademark, patent, industrial design, or copyright), and then exploit the IP by manufacturing a product, licensing the IP, selling a branded service, seeking financing or partners, etc.

Because innovation and intellectual property are inextricably linked, countries that are global innovation leaders have robust IP systems. These systems function effectively because of many elements including legislation, education, incentives, and the way each IP actor performs to sustain innovation. Accordingly, IPIC has identified issues at the intersections of the key IP steps and the six areas for action and, in this submission, provides recommendations to help make Canada a global innovation leader.

IPIC's Position

IPIC makes recommendations in all of the six areas for action identified by the federal government.  These include: 

Entrepreneurial and Creative Society:

a) Include IP in high school, college, and university programs

b) Support programs to encourage IP development in a controlled-risk environment

 Global Science Excellence

a) Consider changes to the SR&ED program in light of the government’s innovation agenda

b) Develop programs to help bridge the innovation gap

Compete in a Digital World

a) Maintain or increase ISED policy-making capacity in IP

b) Continue improvements to CIPO’s IT infrastructure

World-Leading Clusters and Partnerships

a) Create a First Patent Program

b) Continue to consult IP professionals on regulatory, policy, and practice changes

Ease of Doing Business

a) Create the College of Patent and Trademark Agents of Canada

b) Further update the Patent Act and the Trade-marks Act

Grow Companies and Accelerate Clean Growth

a) Explore the feasibility of an innovation box

b) Identify opportunities to increase support for clean growth through the IP framework