IAC National IP Summit 2025

About the National IP Summit

This one-day, in-person forum was aimed at developing stronger, national IP strategies to empower Canadian companies to compete and grow.

“Owning the Global Stage: Canada’s IP Advantage”, the 2025 National IP Summit hosted by IAC, was a one-day forum that brought together leaders from across the innovation ecosystem to align on a national IP agenda, connect IP to Canada’s economic priorities, and determine how stronger IP strategies give Canadian companies the freedom to compete and grow globally.

There were panel discussions and keynotes on:

Research to action: Critical insights from experts on gaps and opportunities in our IP landscape.
Unifying Canada’s IP strength: Aligning a national approach to advancing Canada’s IP capacity.
IP as an economic driver: Using strong IP strategies fuel growth in key sectors.
Creating freedom to operate: Ensuring Canadian-built innovations can compete in shifting supply chains.

All session recordings can be found here.

Session Presentations

KEYNOTE: Owning the Global Stage

Jim Balsillie, Chair, Innovation Asset Collective and Founder and Chair, Centre for International Governance Innovation

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KEYNOTE: Delivering Impact – What Comes Next

Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
Erin Pisko, VP, IP Strategy, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)

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Schedule

Time	Session Summary	Speakers
8:30 – 9:30 am	Registration & Breakfast
9:30 – 9:40 am	Opening Remarks	Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
9:40 – 10:00 am	KEYNOTE: Owning the Global Stage	Jim Balsillie, Chair, Innovation Asset Collective and Founder and Chair, Centre for International Governance Innovation
10:00 – 10:20 am	SPEAKER: Canada’s Economic Priorities and Opportunities	Laurent Carbonneau, Director of Policy & Research, Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI)
10:20 – 10:55 am	PANEL: From Research to Action: Opportunities and Gaps for Canada’s Innovation Ecosystem	Moderator: Elias Collette, Director General, CIPO — Alain Francq, Director, Innovation and Technology, Conference Board of Canada Elysa Darling, COO, DIGITAL Jesse Vincent-Herscovici, CEO, Axelys
10:55 – 11:15 am	Break
11:15 am – 12:00 pm	PANEL: Intelligence Advantage: Canada’s Edge in the Age of AI	Moderator: Neil Desai, Chair, Solace Power and ClearRisk — Craig McLellan, CEO, ThinkON Peter Cowan, President & CEO, Innovate BC Rod Schatz, Managing Director, Alidade Strategies
12:00 – 1:00 pm	Lunch
1:00 – 1:45 pm	PANEL: Security Advantage: Innovation for Stronger Canadian Defense	Moderator: Sonya Shorey, President & CEO, Invest Ottawa — Glenn Cowan, Founder and Managing Partner, ONE9 Hamid Arabzadeh, CEO, Ranovus Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
1:45 – 2:20 pm	PANEL: From R&D to IP Commercialization: Creating a Path for Canadian Research to Drive Economic Growth	Moderator: Duncan Stewart, Partner, Venture Capital, BDC — David Durand, Co-founder, MVIP Louis Carbonneau, Founder & CEO, Tangible IP Omar Zahr, CTO, TandemLaunch
2:20 – 2:40 pm	Break
2:40 – 3:10 pm	KEYNOTE: Delivering Impact – What Comes Next	Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) Erin Pisko, VP, IP Strategy, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
3:10 – 3:55 pm	PANEL: Resource Advantage: Canada’s Power and Potential	Moderator: Lally Rementilla, Lead Partner, IP Investment Partners — Devashish Paul, CEO, BluWave-ai Karicia Quiroz, Economist, EDC
3:55 – 4:05 pm	Remarks from ISED’s Strategic Policy Sector Leadership	Alexandra Dostal, Sr Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
4:05 – 4:15 pm	Key Takeaways & Closing Remarks	Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
4:15 – 5:00 pm	Networking Reception

National Art Centre

All events take place in the Canada Room in the National Arts Centre.

National Arts Centre
1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1

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