Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) Program

Qualification Criteria: - Be an Ontario-based SME with fewer than 500 employees. - Operate in sectors such as health technology, life sciences, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, mining technology, agriculture and food technology, cleantech, or advanced manufacturing related to these sectors. - Own or have rights to IP intended for commercialization or monetization in Canada. - Demonstrate the financial capacity to advance IP protection and commercialization efforts. Qualifying Projects: - Development and implementation of IP strategies. - IP assessments, audits, and benchmarking. - Registration of IP rights, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. - Legal support for IP-related agreements and contracts. Additional Details: - Tier 2 clients can access up to $100,000 per year in funding, with a lifetime cap of $300,000; clients from equity-deserving groups may receive an additional $25,000 per year. - IPON covers up to 80% of eligible costs; clients are responsible for at least 20% plus applicable taxes. - Funding is disbursed upon receipt of invoices from approved service providers for completed work. - Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; eligible clients can apply for funding at any time after completing required learning prerequisites.