UCalgary, Innovate Calgary among organizations splitting $90M in IP program funding

The federal government announced the inaugural launch partners for ElevateIP, a $90 million program to help business accelerators and incubators (BAIs) provide startups with access to professional intellectual property (IP) support. The University of Calgary, Innovate Calgary, and Economic Development Lethbridge were selected as delivery partners for Alberta startups.

The organizations were chosen after a nationwide competitive call for proposals, which closed on June 28, 2022. The ElevateIP program is meant to leverage business networks across the country to enable Canadian startups to protect, strategically manage, and leverage their IP.

“Canadian startups are some of the most innovative and inventive in the world,” said François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry. “That’s why our government is committed to supporting them so they can better protect and manage their IP.” The ultimate goal is to enable companies to better develop IP strategies for long-term growth, he added.

Back in 2018, the federal government launched a National Intellectual Property Strategy which ElevateIP and its partners are meant to build on. Over at least a four-year period, the objectives of the chosen BAIs include increasing IP capacity through education and helping startups secure and maintain IP rights.

Across the rest of the country, the organizations selected for the initiative include Springboard Atlantic, Mouvement des accélérateurs d’innovation du Québec, Communitech Corporation, and New Ventures BC.