Ontario companies with fewer than 500 employees will now be able to access funding to help them protect their intellectual property (IP) and develop their commercialization strategies thanks to a new Brock University program.<\/p>\n
Under the Brock University Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Intellectual Property (IP) Support Program<\/a> companies can apply for up to $10,000 for IP-related services.<\/p>\n \u201cProtecting intellectual property can be crucial for SMEs to maintain their competitive edge, but many face significant financial challenges in this area. This program helps overcome those challenges by offering targeted financial support,\u201d says Bradley McLean, Associate Director of Innovation, Commercialization and Partnerships at Brock LINC.<\/p>\n In addition to the program\u2019s size and location requirements, companies must currently own, or be creating, IP that has commercial potential and must intend to commercialize that IP in Ontario.<\/p>\n Participating companies must also be associated with Brock University, either through a developing or established research partnership or membership with Brock LINC<\/a>, the University\u2019s innovation hub.<\/p>\n McLean says \u201call innovative sectors\u201d will be considered for support, particularly those dealing with mining, computing and data analytics, artificial intelligence, health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, agriculture sciences and agri-tech, sustainable energy and clean technology.<\/p>\n \u201cThis new program aligns with Ontario’s broader push to enhance IP capacity and commercialization across the province,\u201d says McLean. \u201cBy supporting SMEs in protecting and developing their IP, we’re contributing to a more robust and competitive business landscape in Ontario.\u201d<\/p>\n The new funding can support a variety of IP-related services, including patent filing and prosecution costs; trademark registration; copyright protection; IP landscape analysis; IP strategy development, valuation and evaluation; and commercialization planning related to IP.<\/p>\n This new program is part of the University’s commitment to supporting economic development in Niagara across Ontario, says Brock LINC Executive Director Farzana Crocco.<\/p>\n \u201cBrock LINC fosters collaborations between Brock\u2019s researchers, innovative companies and our own talented entrepreneurs, providing access to knowledge and expertise. By partnering with Brock LINC, businesses and startups can accelerate their R&D processes, protect their innovations, and benefit from our extensive network of industry connections.\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Support for Brock University Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Intellectual Property (IP) Support Program comes from Intellectual Property Ontario<\/a> (IPON), an Ontario government agency program designed to support innovation and IP commercialization in post-secondary education.<\/p>\n