Startup Canada Signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

Ottawa, Canada | January 7th, 2020 | Startup Canada, Canada’s entrepreneurship organization, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) to strengthen and formalize their existing partnership and drive understanding and usage of intellectual property and related services for Canadian SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Startup Canada and CIPO’s long-standing partnership represents a fully integrative partnership aiming to encourage IP awareness and uptake across the Canadian entrepreneurial community. A fixture throughout Startup Canada programs, CIPO has trained entrepreneurs through the Canadian Export Challenge (CXC) on IP implications and considerations of going global,  supported entrepreneurs to leverage IP to scale through digital programs like #Startupchats, and has provided entrepreneurs with a free IP toolbox to protect their business and set it up for success. 

This  MoU formalizes this partnership, positioning Startup Canada as a promotional and program delivery partner for the Government of Canada IP services and solutions for entrepreneurs.  “Startup Canada is proud of its longstanding and ongoing relationship with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office,” said Victoria Lennox, President of Startup Canada. “Startup Canada is committed to building innovation and IP protection into the fabric of Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and culture. This MOU with CIPO will provide us with the framework to advance this goal.”

As the next step in distributing IP resources and education to Canadian business owners, CIPO will be collaborating on a Joint Annual Work Plan as part of the 2020 Strategy in January and joining Startup Canada on tour with the Canadian Export Challenge (CXC). For more information, contact: 

Micah Rakoff Bellman

Marketing & Communications Manager

Startup Canada

1-844-782-7801 ext. 103

micah.rakoff.bellman@startupcan.ca

Startup Canada is Canada’s entrepreneurship organization. Startup Canada promotes and supports the success and growth of Canada’s 3.5 million entrepreneurs, with a mandate to foster economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Since launching, Startup Canada’s programming has directly supported more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots Startup Community organizations. Working with over 750 ecosystem partners, including accelerators, incubators, research parks, educational institutions, economic development agencies, associations, and government programs, Startup Canada serves entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and stages of development, with a network reflective of Canada’s diverse population. Learn more at startupcan.ca. 

CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) is establishing itself as the centre of expertise in the Government of Canada for IP business development and client services. CIPO’s Service Strategy is modernizing the design and delivery of IP business services to be client-centric, efficient, and promoting a culture of service management excellence. Through the design and delivery of a suite of IP products, training and services, CIPO is working to increase the understanding and strategic use of IP among inventors and Canadian businesses, particularly SMEs.