Patent work for Ontario companies funded through Intellectual Property Ontario.
Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) can fund up to 80% of eligible IP costs, including patent applications, for qualifying Ontario technology companies; you pay at least 20% plus HST. We are an Ottawa patent agency that acts for IPON-funded clients on Canadian, US, and PCT patent work. Funding is not guaranteed and is subject to IPON's budget.
Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) is an Ontario organization that helps Ontario innovators develop and protect their intellectual property. It offers education, coaching, benchmarking, IP insurance, and, for eligible companies, funding toward the cost of IP work carried out by approved professionals. This page summarizes the basics; the program belongs to IPON, and its own pages are the authority on current terms (services and funding, eligibility, FAQ).
| Level | What IPON publishes |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 with funding | IP funding of up to $25,000 per year, plus the Tier 1 education, coaching, benchmarking, and events |
| Tier 2 | IP funding of up to $100,000 per year, with a lifetime cap of $300,000, plus IP insurance; clients from equity-deserving groups receive an additional $25,000 per year |
| Cost share | IPON covers up to 80% of eligible costs; the client pays at least 20% plus applicable HST |
Funding is not guaranteed and is subject to budget availability. Amounts and terms can change, so please confirm them with IPON.
IPON publishes detailed criteria. In summary, a company generally needs to:
Meeting the criteria does not guarantee approval. IPON assesses applications on IP readiness and business stage, and applicants complete IPON's learning prerequisites before applying for funding.
IPON funding can be used for IP registration (which includes patent applications), IP strategy and survey work, and IP agreements, in each case under a scope of work that IPON approves in advance. Funded services must be forward-looking: IPON does not pay for past work. Litigation and costs such as taxes, subscriptions, and administration are not eligible.
For patents, the work we do for IPON-funded clients includes drafting and filing Canadian, US, and PCT applications and responding to examiners' reports. See patenting in Canada and US patent filing.
IPON requires funded services to be provided by Ontario-based IP lawyers or registered patent agents on its Service Provider Roster, so confirm with IPON that your chosen provider is on it before you start.
If you think your company may qualify, contact us to talk through the invention and the patent work, or visit the IPON site to check eligibility. This page is a summary only. We are not IPON, we do not decide who receives funding, and nothing here guarantees funding.
Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) funds up to 80% of eligible IP costs, including patent applications, for qualifying Ontario technology companies, with the client paying at least 20% plus HST.
IPON publishes Tier 1 funding of up to $25,000 per year and Tier 2 funding of up to $100,000 per year with a lifetime cap of $300,000, plus an extra $25,000 per year for clients from equity-deserving groups. Funding is not guaranteed and depends on IPON's budget.
Yes. IPON funding can be used for IP registration, which includes patent applications, as well as IP strategy, survey work, and IP agreements, under a scope of work that IPON approves in advance. It does not cover past work or litigation.
After the client has paid its share (at least 20% plus taxes) and IPON has received the provider's invoice with confirmation of payment, IPON pays its share directly to the service provider.
IPON-funded services must be provided by Ontario-based IP lawyers or registered patent agents on IPON's Service Provider Roster, so check with IPON that your provider is on the roster before you begin.
Based on information published by IPON at ip-ontario.ca, last checked November 2026. General information only; confirm current terms with IPON. Last updated November 2026.