NOVEMBER 2025 UPDATE: Canada is doubling down on innovation, renewing major IP funding programs to help businesses protect, commercialize, and scale their ideas. 

 

Canada Renews Funding for Key IP Programs Supporting Innovators Through 2026

The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Canadian innovators protect, manage, and commercialize their intellectual property (IP). Through Budget 2025, several cornerstone IP programs—ElevateIP, IP Assist, and the Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)—have been renewed and expanded, extending critical support for startups and SMEs across the country.

Together, these programs represent a coordinated national effort to strengthen Canada’s intellectual property ecosystem and ensure that innovation developed here can thrive and compete on the global stage.

 

Renewed Investments in Canada’s IP Ecosystem

To continue building on the foundation laid in Budget 2022, the Government of Canada announced in November 2025 the following renewed investments starting in 2026–27:

  • $84.4 million over four years to extend the ElevateIP program, helping startups access expert IP strategy services through accelerators and incubators.

  • $75 million over three years to renew IP Assist, delivered by NRC IRAP, supporting SMEs in developing and implementing IP strategies with access to financial assistance.

  • $22.5 million over three years to renew support for the Innovation Asset Collective (IAC), Canada’s Patent Collective, which helps data-driven and cleantech companies protect and leverage their IP.

These renewed programs reflect an ongoing national priority: helping Canadian businesses retain, protect, and commercialize intellectual property in Canada, transforming innovative ideas into lasting competitive advantage.

 

A Strengthened Commitment to IP Commercialization

In addition to funding renewals, Budget 2025 introduces a national intellectual property performance review. This review will identify ways to:

  • Strengthen partnerships with scaling IP-intensive firms

  • Increase domestic investment in leading Canadian innovators

  • Retain and commercialize more IP within Canada

  • Help Canadian firms protect and leverage IP in foreign markets

This marks a significant evolution in the federal approach to innovation—placing IP strategy and commercialization at the heart of Canada’s competitiveness agenda.

 

How Stratford Intellectual Property Helps Businesses Leverage These Programs

Stratford Intellectual Property is proud to be part of this growing ecosystem. We help organizations:

  • Navigate program eligibility and application requirements

  • Assess and strengthen their IP portfolios (patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and more) through our IP Strategy Review

  • Align IP strategies with available funding and business objectives

  • Maximize long-term value through practical commercialization planning

Eligible SMEs may qualify for financial support through programs such as IP Assist to offset the cost of professional IP services.

 

Explore IP Assistance Programs

Canadian innovators can also explore several complementary programs supporting IP development, protection, and commercialization, including:

 

Looking Ahead

As the next phase of funding begins in 2026, these programs will play a pivotal role in helping Canadian businesses grow stronger through innovation and strategic IP management.

If your organization is looking to strengthen its IP strategy, access funding, or prepare for upcoming program renewals, our team can help you take the next step.

👉 Contact us to learn how we can help you make the most of ElevateIP, IP Assist, IAC, and other funding opportunities.

 

Editor’s Note

This article builds on our original 2022 post, SMEs Can Get Help on IP Strategy with IP Assist, which first introduced the program when it launched under Budget 2022. Since then, Stratford Intellectual Property has helped numerous Canadian innovators secure funding through IP Assist and related programs, achieving a high rate of success in helping clients align their IP strategies with federal support opportunities.

We continue to work closely with startups and growing SMEs to ensure their intellectual property strategies are strong, compliant, and positioned to make the most of renewed funding through 2026.
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