Atlantic IP Advantage is the Atlantic provinces’ ElevateIP delivery program, offered by Springboard Atlantic in collaboration with the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, Invest Nova Scotia, Emergence Bioincubator and the Genesis Centre.
Funding
This program provides eligible companies with up to $100,000 to accelerate new product commercialization.
Total project costs must be supported by a completed Provider Quotation Form signed by the service provider.
Accepting applications?
No. Applications are not being accepted for ElevateIP for Tier 2 and Tier 3 funding across the board.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must
be in business for less than 10 years
have fewer than 499 employees
be headquartered in Atlantic Canada (defined as NL, NB, NS and PEI)
have an affiliation to an Atlantic Canada business accelerator or incubator
must attend their IP Awareness Event to receive support
must successfully complete a Tier 2 project before accessing Tier 3 funding
Funding streams
Tier 1 – IP education: includes training sessions, workshops and online resources, all of which are free and require no application
Tier 2 – IP strategy development: includes patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews and more (up to 3 months). Tier 2 can be funded up to $15,000.
Tier 3 – IP strategy implementation: Includes patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, open-source audits and more. Tier 3 can go as high as the maximum funding of $100,000
Timelines
Projects typically take 3–6 months from approval to completion. For the most recent funding round, all projects must have been completed no later than March 31, 2026.
Work covered
Freedom-to-operate, contracts and agreement reviews.
Work not covered
Costs related to litigation, ongoing licensing fees, costs associated with the repayment or refinancing of an existing debt, lobbying costs, costs associated with the purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of said asset, amortization costs, land building or vehicle acquisition costs, goodwill costs, dividends, bonuses, other fees to project management team, entertainment expenses e.g. alcohol, non-travel expenses, any retroactive work.
The Business Growth Program is a non-repayable grant program offered by Newfoundland and Labrador’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology. The program provides non-repayable contributions for growth-focused, innovative companies to pursue a number of research and development (R&D) and commercialization activities.
Funding
On a per project basis, companies can receive up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $200,000 over 24 months ($100,000 per year). Development and Commercialization projects may be considered up to a higher maximum, normally up to $750,000 over multiple years at varying amounts per year.
Accepting applications?
Yes
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must either be
growth-focused, innovative firms including sole proprietors, partnerships or corporations operating within Newfoundland and Labrador that demonstrate commercial viability; or
co-operatives or non-profit organizations operating within Newfoundland and Labrador that demonstrate an ability to generate commercial revenue or are pursuing international trade or economic development opportunities
Applicants must also demonstrate
ability to undertake the work identified in the project proposal
ability to access the financial capital required to complete the project
good standing with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Funding streams
There are two primary streams:
Stream 1 – General applicant. This stream focuses on helping innovation and growth-focused businesses with the following priorities: Development and Commercialization, Productivity Improvement and Innovation, Knowledge and Technical Assistance and Growth and Internationalization.
Stream 2 – Development and Commercialization (R&D) Applicant. This stream has the objective to support business investment for R&D in Newfoundland and Labrador, enhance the technical capacity of businesses to overcome technical challenges while reducing financial risk, helping companies quickly respond to market opportunities for development of products and services, and helping companies build R&D partnerships.
Timelines
There are no specific timelines for this program. Grants are awarded throughout the year.
Work covered
Business Growth Program funding provides support for
development and commercialization
productivity improvement and innovation
knowledge and technical assistance
growth and internationalization
Development and Commercialization (R&D) Applicant Guide funding provides support for
applied R&D, prototyping (physical proof), performance testing against pre-determined criteria
field trials and small-scale demonstration projects, technical validation of the component, subsystem, and/or system in a laboratory, simulated and/or real-world operating environment
software development that requires research leading to an incremental advance of a technology or platform, primarily including enhancements around machine learning, artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies.
collaboration with institutions/entities (public or private) to carry out leading-edge research and development that directly contributes to the development of new technology-based economic activity in Newfoundland and Labrador
employment of doctoral graduates for the purpose of conducting R&D
Work not covered
The following pertains specifically to ineligible applicants:
Residential and commercial real estate services, wholesale, and beverage rooms and taverns.
Applicants with proposed projects or initiatives that are in direct competition with local market entities
Professional service operations are not normally eligible. Consideration may be given to eligibility of a project within this sector in a unique situation as identified by the Department.
NL cannabis producers are eligible for export market development only. Cannabis proposals for start-up and expansion projects are ineligible at this time.
Contributions may be limited or declined based on the nature of an applicant's previously proposed/approved projects.
Communitech, in partnership with Invest Ottawa, administers the ElevateIP program and funding for the province of Ontario.
Funding
Eligible applicants can receive up to $100,000 in funding, with applicants responsible for 10–35% of eligible costs.
Accepting applications?
No. Stay tuned. More information to come mid-to-late summer 2026.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must
be a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC)
have less than 500 employees
prove that the IP is owned by the CCPC and not an individual
be headquartered in Ontario. For Invest Ottawa, CCPC must be headquartered in eastern Ontario
Funding streams
Tier 1 – IP education: Includes training sessions, workshops and online resources, all of which are free and require no application.
Tier 2 – IP strategy development: Includes patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews and more (up to three months). Tier 2 can be funded up to $25,000.
Tier 3 – IP strategy implementation: Includes patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, open-source audits and more. Tier 3 can go as high as the maximum funding of $100,000.
Timelines
n/a
Work covered
Freedom-to-operate, contracts and agreement reviews.
Work not covered
Costs related to litigation, ongoing licensing fees, costs associated with the repayment or refinancing of an existing debt, lobbying costs, costs associated with the purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of said asset, amortization costs, land building or vehicle acquisition costs, goodwill costs, dividends, bonuses, other fees to project management team, entertainment expenses e.g. alcohol, non-travel expenses.
momentumPI is Québec’s ElevateIP delivery program and is run by Mouvement des accelerateurs d’innovation du Québec (MAIN) in collaboration with Centech and Accelerateur de creation d’enterprises technologiques (ACET).
Funding
This program provides eligible companies with up to $100,000 to accelerate new product commercialization.
Accepting applications?
Yes
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must
have a head office in Québec and intend to keep its head office in Canada
have an established business model based on an innovative product or service
demonstrate strong growth potential (business model with potential for scale)
be in the early stages of commercialization (annual sales of $2 million or less)
be supported by an organization (accelerator or incubator), proven by a letter of support
Funding streams
Tier 1 – IP education: Includes training sessions, workshops and online resources, all of which are free and require no application.
Tier 2 – IP strategy development: Includes patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews and more (up to three months). Tier 2 can be funded up to $15,000.
Tier 3 – IP strategy implementation: Includes patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, open-source audits and more. Tier 3 can go as high as the maximum funding of $100,000.
Timelines
Approved activities must be completed by March 15, 2027.
Work covered
Freedom-to-operate, Contracts and Agreement Reviews.
Note that the following restrictions apply to various, eligible activities:
research landscape (technological/competitive environment), max of $15,000
trademark availability search, max of $4000
freedom to operate (FTO), max of $15,000
patentability research, max of $5000
prior art research/state of the art, max $5000
Work not covered
Costs related to litigation, ongoing licensing fees, costs associated with the repayment or refinancing of an existing debt, lobbying costs, costs associated with the purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of said asset, amortization costs, land building or vehicle acquisition costs, goodwill costs, dividends, bonuses, other fees to project management team, entertainment expenses e.g. alcohol, non-travel expenses.
ElevateIP is administered by North Forge for the province of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This program also collaborates and partners with Ontario’s Communitech and Invest Ottawa.
Funding
This program provides eligible companies with up to $100,000 to accelerate new product commercialization.
Accepting applications?
No. Applications are not being accepted for ElevateIP for Tier 2 and Tier 3 funding across the board.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must
be a startup incorporated or registered in Manitoba or Saskatchewan
be in business for less than 15 years
have fewer than 500 full-time employees
have under $10 million in annual revenue
Funding streams
Tier 1 – IP education: includes training sessions, workshops and online resources, all of which are free and require no application.
Tier 2 – IP strategy development: includes patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews and more (up to three months). Tier 2 can be funded up to $15,000.
Tier 3 – IP strategy implementation: includes patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, open-source audits and more. Tier 3 can go as high as the maximum funding of $100,000.
Timelines
Projects typically take 3–6 months from approval to completion. For the most recent funding round, all projects must have been completed no later than March 31, 2026.
Work covered
Freedom-to-operate, contracts and agreement reviews.
Please note that the following eligible expense requirements now apply:
Only service providers with in-house authorized patent filing agents are eligible to provide patent-related services to ElevateIP applicants.
Only service providers with in-house authorized trademark filing agents are eligible to provide trademark-related services to ElevateIP applicants.
Limited types of agreements will be included as a service unless the IP advisor advises as necessary.
Copyright services will not be included in the approved services.
Work not covered
Costs related to litigation, ongoing licensing fees, costs associated with the repayment or refinancing of an existing debt, lobbying costs, costs associated with the purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of said asset, amortization costs, land building or vehicle acquisition costs, goodwill costs, dividends, bonuses, other fees to project management team, entertainment expenses e.g. alcohol, non-travel expenses.
Western (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
ElevateIP Alberta is Alberta’s ElevateIP program and funding administrator and is delivered by the University of Calgary in collaboration with Innovate Calgary and Economic Development Lethbridge.
Funding
Eligible applicants can receive up to $100,000 in funding, with applicants responsible for 10–35% of eligible costs.
Accepting applications?
No. Stay tuned for more information for program launch August 2026
Eligibility requirements
be a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC)
have less than 500 employees
be headquartered in Alberta
fewer than 10 years in business
have a high growth potential, innovation backed business model
less than $10 million in annual recurring revenue
less than $1 million in dilutive funding raised
associated with an Alberta-based business accelerator or incubator
Funding streams
Tier 1 – IP education: includes training sessions, workshops and online resources, all of which are free and require no application.
Tier 2 – IP strategy development: includes patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews and more (up to three months). Tier 2 can be funded up to $15,000.
Tier 3 – IP strategy implementation: includes patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, open-source audits and more. Tier 3 can go as high as the maximum funding of $100,000.
Timelines
Work covered
Freedom-to-operate, Contracts and Agreement Reviews.
Note that any Tier 2 project must be completed by an Alberta-based provider. Tier 3 may be completed by a non-Alberta provider subject to approval by ElevateIP Alberta.
Work not covered
Costs related to litigation, ongoing licensing fees, costs associated with the repayment or refinancing of an existing debt, lobbying costs, costs associated with the purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of said asset, amortization costs, land building or vehicle acquisition costs, goodwill costs, dividends, bonuses, other fees to project management team, entertainment expenses e.g. alcohol, non-travel expenses
The Voucher Program provides Alberta tech and innovation companies with funding to accelerate new products towards commercialization for novel, promising technologies and an identified product/market fit.
Funding
This program provides eligible companies with up to $100,000 to accelerate new product commercialization.
Accepting applications?
No
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must
have fewer than 500 full-time employees and less than $50,000,000 in annual gross revenue
be a for-profit corporation, general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership registered in Alberta
be able to contribute a minimum of 25% cash contribution of the total eligible project costs
have a new, unique technology or innovation that is patentable working toward commercialization
must be Alberta-based with an Alberta footprint, which includes significant physical and corporate operations in Alberta; appropriate Alberta ownership; and discernible intent that operational benefits will flow primarily within the Province of Alberta
Funding streams
There are no particular streams of funding for this program.
Timelines
There are no set timelines for this program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Work covered
New product research and development, leading-edge design, engineering and prototype development, advanced product testing and refinement, patent development, advanced market assessments, and other technology development activities may be included.
Work not covered
Overhead costs, sales and marketing collateral, acquisitions of land or buildings, the underappreciated value of eligible capital costs which extends beyond the project term, capital improvements, capital equipment, costs relating to travel, passport or immigration fees, reimbursement of airfare purchased with personal frequent flyer programs, commuting costs, costs associated with applying to government grants and programs, technical or professional journals, provisions for contingencies, collections charges, allowance for interest on debt, fines and penalties, taxes, and other costs deemed ineligible at Alberta Innovate’s sole discretion.
British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
AccelerateIP is the ElevateIP delivery program for British Columbia as well as Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The program is administered in collaboratively by New Ventures BC, BC Tech Association, Innovate BC, and a network of local partners and collaborators in the region.
Funding
This program provides eligible companies with up to $100,000 to accelerate new product commercialization.
Accepting applications?
Yes. IP education Stream 1.
No. Applications for Stream 2 will reopen in September 2026.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must
be a startup based in British Columbia, Yukon, Nunavut or Northwest Territories (must be incorporated in British Columbia)
have less than 500 employees
be a member of a program partner or collaborator
agree to co-invest 25% of any service provider costs (10% for Indigenous-led startups)
obtain a quote from a legal service provider registered with the program
use innovative technology and/or operate in the tech sector
Funding streams
Tier 1 – IP education: includes training sessions, workshops and online resources, all of which are free and require no application
Tier 2 – IP strategy development: includes patent mining and prior art searches, trademark searches, agreement reviews and more (up to three months). Tier 2 can be funded up to $15,000.
Tier 3 – IP strategy implementation: includes patent drafting/filing/prosecution, trademark registrations, licensing agreement creation, open-source audits and more. Tier 3 can go as high as the maximum funding of $100,000.
Timelines
Projects typically take 3–6 months from approval to completion. For the most recent funding round, all projects must be completed no later than March 31, 2026.
Work covered
Freedom-to-operate, contracts and agreement reviews.
Retroactive work is eligible provided that invoices for said work have not yet been paid.
Work not covered
Costs related to litigation, ongoing licensing fees, costs associated with the repayment or refinancing of an existing debt, lobbying costs, costs associated with the purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of said asset, amortization costs, land building or vehicle acquisition costs, goodwill costs, dividends, bonuses, other fees to project management team, entertainment expenses e.g. alcohol, non-travel expenses, any retroactive work.
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