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Nicole Zeit
Torys LLP
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Call for Nominees: Updates to the IPIC Emerging Agent Awards of Excellence

Published on May 8, 2026

The Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) is pleased to announce important changes to two prestigious awards that recognize outstanding newly qualified patent and trademark agents: the Maybee Emerging Patent Agent Award of Excellence and the Foundation Emerging Trademark Agent Award of Excellence.

These annual awards have long served as a mark of distinction for professionals entering the patent and trademark fields.  Historically, each award was bestowed upon the candidate who achieved the highest mark on the qualifying patent or trademark examination.  However, with the recent transition of the CPATA examinations to a pass or fail system, the basis for selecting award recipients has been updated to reflect this change.

A New Multi-Factor Assessment

The Maybee Emerging Patent Agent Award of Excellence and the Foundation Emerging Trademark Agent Award of Excellence are intended to recognize the most outstanding newly qualified patent and trademark agent, respectively.  Going forward, the receipt of these awards will be determined through a multi-factor assessment of professional excellence.  This approach aligns with the awards’ longstanding purpose of recognizing outstanding achievement among newly qualified agents, while adapting to the current examination framework.  Rather than relying on a single examination score, the revised selection process will evaluate candidates on a broader basis, ensuring that the awards continue to honour individuals who demonstrate exceptional promise in the profession.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates seeking consideration for either award must have successfully completed the Patent Agent Skills Examination (for the Maybee Emerging Patent Agent Award of Excellence) or the Trademarks Agent Skills Examination (for the Foundation Emerging Trademark Agent Award of Excellence) in the preceding calendar year.  For the 2026 award, this means candidates must have passed the relevant examination by 2025, with results issued in February 2026.

Membership in IPIC is not required and candidates are not required to hold a Class 1 license at the time of application.

How to Apply

Full details regarding the award criteria, application requirements, and submission process can be found here.  Submissions are due by June 30, 2026.  We encourage all eligible candidates to view the application materials and consider putting their names forward for these meaningful recognitions of professional excellence.  These awards represent an important acknowledgement of your accomplishments as you begin your career in intellectual property, and IPIC welcomes interest from all qualifying candidates.

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