IAC Grant Program for Canadian Businesses To Develop IP

Strategic Funding to Propel Canadian SMEs in the Cleantech Sector Through IP Innovation

Donor: Innovation Asset Collective (IAC), funded by the Government of Canada’s Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED)

About: The IAC Grant Program represents a groundbreaking opportunity for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the data-driven cleantech sector to strengthen their intellectual property position and accelerate business growth through strategic IP development.

As capital-constrained businesses, Canadian SMEs often prioritize funding for immediate business infrastructure and R&D initiatives, placing IP-specific expenditures on the backburner. This critical gap in IP strategy creates vulnerability in today’s competitive global marketplace, where intellectual property rights directly impact a company’s ability to scale, commercialize innovations, and secure market share.

The Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) was established in 2019 as Canada’s first patent collective, receiving $30 million in federal funding to address this precise challenge. As a membership-based, not-for-profit organization, IAC serves as a key pillar in Canada’s national IP strategy, focusing specifically on helping data-driven cleantech companies leverage intellectual property as a strategic business tool.

Statistics reveal a concerning reality: Canadian cleantech companies own less than 0.7% of global patents in the sector. This IP ownership gap significantly limits their freedom to operate, negotiate partnerships, and compete against larger international entities. The IAC Grant Program directly addresses this disparity by providing financial support for critical IP activities including patent filings, IP strategy development, freedom-to-operate analyses, and other IP-related services both domestically and internationally.

What sets this grant apart is its tiered approach that accommodates businesses at different growth stages. Full Members can access up to $20,000 per grant from a substantial $200,000 pool per funding round, while Associate Members (typically earlier-stage startups) can receive up to $10,000 per grant from a $100,000 pool. Additionally, recognizing the gender imbalance in the IP landscape, IAC reserves specific funding for women-led companies, creating critical opportunities for historically underrepresented innovators.

Grant applications are evaluated through a rigorous assessment of three key criteria: alignment with the organization’s IP strategy, consideration of business impact, and alignment with IAC’s mandate to advance data-driven cleantech SME patent portfolios. This ensures funding directly supports strategic growth rather than simply protecting past innovations.

For companies seeking comprehensive support for their IP journey, Grantaura offers specialized services including targeted grant research, strategic documentation development (business plans, LOIs, pitch decks), and full application management. Our expertise can help maximize your chances of securing IAC funding while developing a robust IP strategy aligned with your business objectives.

Focus: IP strategy development, patent filings, IP monitoring, trademark registrations, freedom-to-operate analyses, IP commercialization, cleantech innovation, data-driven technologies, patent portfolio growth

Region: Canada

Eligibility:
-Must be a Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
-Must operate in the data-driven cleantech sector
-Must be a member of Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
–Associate Membership: For early-stage startups with fewer than 25 employees and less than $500,000 in revenue
–Full Membership: For SMEs with fewer than 500 employees at startup or scale-up stages
-Must demonstrate how funding will align with organization’s IP strategy
-Must show how the proposed IP activities will impact business growth
-Must align with IAC’s mandate of advancing cleantech SME patent portfolios
-Women-led companies (including those led by cis and trans women, two-spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals) are eligible for dedicated funding streams

Benefits:
-Full Member Grant: Up to $20,000 per grant
-Associate Member Grant: Up to $10,000 per grant
-Women in IP Grant: Dedicated funding stream with grants from $5,000-$10,000
-IP Credit: Members can use their annual membership fees (up to $15,000) as credits for IP-related services
-Access to comprehensive IP education and resources
-Opportunity to strengthen IP portfolio for improved market competitiveness
-Support from world-renowned IP experts
-Strategic positioning for global market expansion

Deadline: Ongoing: Multiple submission opportunities throughout the year

Terms:
-SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise): In the context of IAC eligibility, Associate Members are defined as companies with fewer than 25 employees and less than $500,000 in revenue, while Full Members are companies with fewer than 500 employees
-Data-driven cleantech: Technologies that leverage data analytics, artificial intelligence, and other digital tools to address environmental challenges, improve sustainability, or enhance resource efficiency
-IP Strategy: A comprehensive plan that outlines how a business will develop, manage, protect and leverage its intellectual property assets to achieve business objectives
-Freedom to Operate (FTO): Analysis determining whether a product or process infringes on existing patents or intellectual property rights
-Patent Collective: A collaborative approach where multiple entities pool resources to acquire, manage and leverage patents for mutual benefit
-Cleantech: Technologies, products, or services that reduce negative environmental impacts through energy efficiency improvements, sustainable resource use, or environmental protection activities