Business Development Opportunity for IPIC Members - IP Assist: Introduction to Intellectual Property (IP) for Innovative Unrepresented SMEs

IPIC continues to seek member participation in its IP Assist program, a partnership with the National Research Council’s (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) that helps SMEs better understand the key aspects of intellectual property (IP) and how IP can support their business goals. IP Assist is a program that aims to provide IRAP unrepresented SMEs with access to experts in Intellectual Property that can help them increase their IP Awareness (Level 1), develop an IP Strategy (Level 2) and implement IP actions defined in their IP Strategies (Level 3).  

IP Assist will be working with IPIC to match SMEs to an expert in Intellectual Property in their specific industry through IPIC’s membership.

The IP Professional will host a tailored Level 1 (L1) one-to-one IP Awareness session with the SME during which they will provide industry-specific IP information and guidance to the SME.

L1 engagement provides the IP professional with an opportunity to connect, support and guide innovative Canadian SME to help them achieve their business goals. Engagements with SMEs will take, on average, 3 hours (including IP awareness presentation followed by Q&As).

There will be a $1000.00 payment for the IP professional’s time on the L1 engagement.

IRAP will also be funding the SME’s IP strategy in Level 2 (L2) should the SME decide to move forward with the agent.

L2 engagement provides connections and access to IP experts that can help build and develop an IP strategy that supports the firm’s business goals. An IP strategy developed through IP Assist can help SME’s answer some important questions and gain valuable insights relating to their technology, business, and IP.

There will be a $18,000.00 payment for the IP professional’s time on the L2 engagement. Expertise in two of the following industries will be needed to participate in this program:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Agri-Food
• Biomedical
• Bioproducts
• Clean Tech
• Construction
• ICT
• Mining
• Branding Strategy

Click here to sign up to IP Assist if you have expertise in any two of these areas and would like to take part in the program and be paired with an IRAP SME. For more information contact IPIC’s Program Officer Nathalie Etienne at ipassist@ipic.ca