Full Membership Policy
This Full Membership Policy explains the terms and conditions that apply to companies participating in IAC as Full Members. It outlines eligibility requirements, membership benefits, and the responsibilities that come with maintaining membership in good standing. By joining IAC as a Full Member, companies agree to the terms set out in this policy.
| We, us or our | means Innovation Asset Collective (“IAC”) |
| Member | means an IAC member (i.e. an entity that has an active membership agreement with IAC) |
| Party | means Member or IAC |
| Parties | means both Member and IAC |
1.1. IAC is a not-for-profit funded by the federal government’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development (“ISED”) department. IAC’s mandate is to help Canadian companies leverage their Intellectual Property Rights and increase their freedom to operate (FTO) by mitigating risk and increasing access to global markets.
1.2. The terms and conditions in this policy (“Policy”) explain the Member’s rights and obligations as a Full Member of IAC. By joining IAC, the Member agrees to be bound by this Policy and the documents and other policies referred to in it. The Member should read this Policy carefully. If the Member has any questions about this Policy, please contact member@ipcollective.ca. If there is a conflict between an existing or surviving clause of a prior agreement between the Member and IAC and the terms and conditions of this Policy, this Policy will govern.
1.3. This Policy is dated March 13, 2026. We reserve the right to change this Policy from time to time and we will notify the Member by email of any substantive changes to the Policy. Changes to this Policy will be effective when the updated terms and conditions are posted on this website. By continuing the Member’s membership with IAC, the Member agrees to be bound by any change to this Policy. If any change to this Policy is not acceptable to the Member, please reach out to member@ipcollective.ca to cancel the Member’s membership.
2.1. “Base Coverage” means an IP liability insurance policy that has an aggregate claim limit of $1,000,000 and the sub-limits set out in Schedule 1 hereto. For further details on the Base Coverage, please go to IAC Explained.
2.2. “Confidential Information” means: (i) all Intellectual Property Rights of the Disclosing Party; (ii) any non-public information, whether oral, visual, written, electronic or other tangible or intangible form, that is proprietary or confidential to the Disclosing Party and disclosed to the Receiving Party, including Trade Secrets; (iii) all information and data relating to the Disclosing Party or its business; and (iv) third party information to which the Disclosing Party owes any obligation of confidentiality, and which is (i) disclosed by the Disclosing Party in writing and is marked as “Confidential” (or like designation) at the time of disclosure, or (ii) disclosed by the Disclosing Party in any other manner and is identified as confidential at the time of disclosure. Confidential Information does not include information which a receiving party can demonstrate:
a) is previously known by or in the possession of the Receiving Party or its Representatives before receipt from the Disclosing Party, as shown by written documentation;
b) is generally known or in the public domain at the time of disclosure or though originally Confidential Information, subsequently becomes a matter of public knowledge, in each case other than as a result of the Receiving Party’s or its Representatives’ breach of this Agreement, provided that, any personal information disclosed pursuant to this Agreement shall not be subject to this exclusion;
c) is or becomes available to the Receiving Party on a non-confidential basis from a third party other than the Disclosing Party, provided that such source was not and is not, to the Receiving Party’s knowledge, bound by a confidentiality agreement with the disclosing party or otherwise prohibited from transmitting the information to the Receiving Party by a contractual, legal, or fiduciary obligation;
d) is disclosed by the Disclosing Party to a third party without a duty of confidentiality on the third party;
e) has been independently developed by the Receiving Party without violating any of its obligations under this agreement and without reference to or reliance upon, in whole or in part, any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party; or
f) has been approved for disclosure by written authorization of the Disclosing Party.
2.3. “Disclosing Party” means the person or entity disclosing information.
2.4. “Good Standing” means there are no outstanding invoices in your account, no outstanding onboarding or reporting requirements, and no violations of the Full Membership Agreement (including any Addendums or Schedules thereto) or this Policy.
2.5. “IAC Funding” means any funding IAC provides to you, including but not limited to IP credits, grant funding, and IP insurance premium reimbursement.
2.6. “Intellectual Property Rights” means any and all (by whatever name or term known or designated) tangible and intangible and now known or hereafter existing (i) rights associated with works of authorship, including but not limited to copyrights and Moral Rights, including, without limitation, the right to prosecute and maintain copyright applications and registrations for any such copyrights, and the right to sue and recover damages for past, present and future infringement of such copyrights (to the extent applicable law permits such rights to sue and recover damages to be assigned), (ii) patents, designs, algorithms and other industrial property rights, (iii) all other intellectual and industrial property and property rights (of every kind and nature throughout the world and however designated), whether arising by operation of law, contract, licence or otherwise, and (iv) all registrations, applications, renewals, extensions, continuations, divisions or reissues thereof now or hereafter in force throughout the world (including without limitation rights in any of the foregoing).
2.7. “Moral Rights” means any and all moral rights arising under the Copyright Act (Canada) as amended (or any successor legislation of similar force and effect) or similar legislation in other applicable jurisdictions or at common law that such individual, as author, has with respect to any copyrighted works or developments thereto prepared by such individual hereunder including, without limitation, (a) the right to be associated with the work as its author and the right to remain anonymous, and (b) the right to restrain any distortion, mutilation or other modification of such work and the right to prohibit any use of any such work in association with a product, service, cause or institution, in each case that might be prejudicial to such individual’s honour or reputation.
2.8. “Objectives” mean: (i) helping small- and medium-sized enterprises that are working in the areas of data-driven clean technologies better leverage Intellectual Property Rights in their drive to grow to scale; (ii) providing the Government of Canada with insight to better support small- and medium-sized enterprises regarding the foregoing; and (iii) helping Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs better understand, protect, and commercialize their Intellectual Property.
2.9. “Primary Business” means the business where a significant portion of your: a) research and development activities take place and/or related costs are incurred; b) production or manufacturing activities take place and/or related costs are incurred; or c) revenue is generated. When determining whether a business is your Primary Business, IAC may, with the approval of our CEO, consider other factors in place of or in addition to those listed in here.
2.10. “Receiving Party” means the person or entity receiving information.
2.11. “Trade Secret” means any information set out, contained or embodied in, but not limited to, a formula, pattern, plan, compilation, computer program, method, technique, process, product, device or mechanism that (i) is, or may be, capable of industrial or commercial application or used in a trade or business, (ii) is not generally known in that trade or business, (iii) has economic value because it is not generally known, and (iv) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to prevent it from becoming generally known.
3.1. Data-Driven Cleantech Company. The table below, as well as 3.2 to 3.4 detail IAC’s considerations when determining whether a company meets the definition of a Data-Driven Cleantech Company
Table 1: DDCT Categories
| AIR, ENVIRONMENT & REMEDIATION | Any process, product or service that enables or facilitates the protection of the environment. This category considers the protection of air and climate; the protection and remediation of soil, sediment, sludge, groundwater, surface water and leachate; and relates to any other environmental protection activities. |
| SMART GRID & ENERGY STORAGE | Any process, product or service that relates to smart grids and energy storage. This includes transmission and distribution of electricity within smart grids and microgrids, demand management via smart metering or other, as well as any type of energy storage means, including but not limited to fuel cells. |
| BIOFUELS, BIOENERGY AND BIOPRODUCTS | Any process, product or service that relates to biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts as alternatives to fuel production and substitutes for fossil fuels and fossil fuel-based materials. |
| MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY | Any process, product or service that relates to advanced or lightweight materials; mineral use which reduces environmental impacts; green mining; or any other industrial and/or manufacturing method or related device that reduces environmental impacts. |
| ENERGY EFFICIENCY | Any process, product or service that provides the ability to improve energy and resource efficiency. This includes any technology that improves energy efficiency via enhanced industrial design; management, control and monitoring; and any improvement or modification that provides efficient energy usage, including energy efficient equipment, appliances, and services. |
| PRECISION AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND BIODIVERSITY | Any process, product or service that promotes precision agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, and biodiversity. This includes but is not limited to precision input, machinery and equipment, as well as soil chemistry products and services used in agriculture; aquaculture and aquaponics equipment, management, control and services; wild flora and fauna management; and sustainable forestry. |
| RENEWABLES | Any process, product or service that relates to renewable, non-emitting electricity and heat production. This includes but is not limited to wind, bioenergy, geothermal, hydro, solar, waste, and nuclear-based energy production. |
| TRANSPORT | Any process, product or service that supports sustainable mobility. This includes but is not limited to fuel efficient automotive equipment; electric vehicles and related components and infrastructure; fuel cell vehicles and related components and infrastructure; other efficient automotive equipment; fuel efficient aerospace equipment; and traffic infrastructure, monitoring and control. |
| OIL AND GAS | Any process, product or service that relates to the Oil & Gas industry (fossil fuel-based materials and production) and which provides higher efficiency and facilitates the reduction of environmental impacts. |
| WASTE AND RECYCLING | Any process, product or service that relates to the management of non-hazardous waste. This includes but is not limited to collection, separating and sorting, compaction, centralized biological reprocessing, disposal and landfill management; waste treatment and management support; recycling equipment and related services. |
| WATER AND WASTEWATER | Any process, product or service that relates to water, wastewater, and sewage management and treatment. This includes but is not limited to municipal treatment; treatment of drinking water; protection and remediation of groundwater, surface water and leachate; related control, containment, and monitoring services; water usage efficiency; and water recycling and reuse. |
| DATA-DRIVEN SUPPORT | Any process, product, or service in which data is used to power decision-making and other related activities efficiently, to implement, support, facilitate, or improve any of the above cleantech areas. Examples of data-driven support include sensor, communication, computing, automation, robotics, etc. |
3.2. Environmental Impact. When deciding whether the Member is a DDCT company, we consider the environmental benefits the Member is achieving or intend to achieve with the Member’s innovation. Environmental benefits include impact on climate (e.g. greenhouse gas reduction), water, land (e.g. soil), air, and/or circular economy (e.g. recycling, regeneration, or re-use of resources).
3.3. Use of Recycled or Environmentally Friendly Materials. Merely using recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials in the Member’s products or services is not sufficient to qualify the Member as a DDCT company. IAC may consider the following factors to qualify the Member as a DDCT company:
a) whether the Member’s products or services themselves fall into at least one of the categories in Table 1;
b) whether the Member created or developed a new recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable material or a new material from recycled materials, and the new material has improved or advanced properties or other benefits. Example: the Member uses paper waste to create a cattle feedstock that has increased protein content; or
c) whether the Member developed a new process to use or incorporate the recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials into the Member’s products or services. Example: the Member processes landfill waste to make fibreglass for use by others.
3.4. IT, AI and IoT-focused Businesses. If the Member’s business activities fall within the category of Data-Driven Support, the Member’s business activities to implement, support, facilitate, or improve any of the other categories in Table 1 must be the Member’s Primary Business for the Member to qualify as a DDCT company.
3.5. Finality of Eligibility Decision. IAC has the sole discretion to decide whether the Member is eligible to be an IAC member and IAC’s decision in this regard is final and binding.
As long as the Member is a member in Good Standing, the Member has the following benefits:
4.1. IAC Members-Only Site. The Member can access IAC’s members-only sites using the login credentials provided by IAC. The Member may share the login credentials with anyone within the Member’s organization; however, the Member cannot share the Member’s login credentials with anyone outside the Member’s organization.
4.2. IP Credits. The availability of IP Credits is summarized in the Full Member Agreement. To claim the Member’s IP Credits, the Member must submit the relevant invoices and proof of payment to finance@ipcollective.ca. For information on the IP credits available, please refer to the Member’s Full Member Agreement.
4.3. Grants. The Member may apply for one or more grants designated for Full Members. Grants are awarded at IAC’s sole discretion and only successful applicants will receive grant funding. The Member acknowledges that IAC may award grants to other Members, including Members who may be competitors of the Member, and the Member waives any objection to IAC’s funding decisions on that basis. For detailed information about our grant programs, please go to IAC Explained on via the members-only site.
4.4. Intelligence Reports. The Member can access all IAC-produced market intelligence reports via the members-only site. Members can also request access to the data in the report by emailing member@ipcollective.ca. The Member cannot share the reports or data with anyone outside the Member’s organization, except for the Member’s external advisors provided that the Member’s advisors treat the reports as the Member’s Confidential Information.
4.5. Patent Monitoring. The Member may request support to set up a patent monitoring search leveraging IAC’s monitoring tools by emailing member@ipcollective.ca.
4.6. IP Liability Insurance. The Member may apply for IP liability insurance through IAC. The availability and scope of coverage of the insurance will depend on the insurer’s acceptance of the Member’s application. The Base Coverage for IP Liability Insurance available through IAC is outlined in Schedule 1.
a) Insurance Premiums. If the Member’s insurance application is approved, the Member will be responsible for paying the insurance premiums directly to the insurer. However, IAC will reimburse the Member for the cost of the premiums for the Base Coverage for insurance accessed through IAC’s insurance program. Any coverage beyond the Base Coverage will be at the Member’s own expense. To request reimbursement, the Member must submit the Member’s insurance premium invoice and proof of payment to ipinsurance@ipcollective.ca.
4.7. Access to IAC’s IP Experts. The Member may request a meeting with any of IAC’s in-house IP experts. We will do our best to make our experts available and may suggest alternatives if the Member’s matter is time sensitive. The Member acknowledges that IAC’s IP experts may also provide services to other Members, including Members who may be competitors of the Member, and the Member waives any objection to IAC’s provision of services to other Members on that basis.
4.8. IAC Events. The Member will be invited to certain events hosted by IAC, including networking events, workshops, webinars, etc. Some events may be subject to additional fees and/or terms and conditions.
4.9. Access to IAC Patents. The Member may request to purchase any patent owned by IAC by emailing us at portfolio@ipcollective.ca. We will decide whether to sell the Member the requested patent(s) at our own discretion. The patent purchase will be covered by a separate agreement.
4.10. Assistance with IP Purchase. The Member may request IAC’s assistance with the Member’s purchase of a third party’s IP assets by emailing us at portfolio@ipcollective.ca. Whether we can assist will depend on the availability of our IAC experts and other resources.
4.11. Licenses and Sublicences. The Member may request a non-exclusive license or sublicence to any IAC IP by emailing us at portfolio@ipcollective.ca. We will decide whether to grant the Member the requested license or sublicence at our own discretion. The grant of license or sublicence will be covered by a separate agreement.
4.12. Non-Assertion Covenants. The Member may request to be covered by any non-assertion covenant to which we are a party by emailing us at portfolio@ipcollective.ca. We will decide whether to grant the Member’s request at our own discretion. Participation in a non-assertion covenant will be covered by a separate agreement.
4.13. No Right to Transfer. The Member’s membership benefits are non-transferable.
4.14. Revocation of Benefits for Breach. If the Member breaches any term or condition of this Policy, we may revoke, restrict, or suspend the Member’s access to the Member’s membership benefits without providing notice to the Member.
5.1 Updating Business Information. If there is a change in the identity or contact information of the Member’s primary contact or financial contact, a change in the Member’s business name or domain name, or any other change that might affect our internal records of the Member’s business, the Member must notify us immediately at member@ipcollective.ca.
6.1. Conditions on IAC Funding. All funding the Member receives from IAC come from Canadian taxpayers, so IAC has an obligation to ensure a high level of governance around the use of IAC Funding. IAC Funding can only be used for activities that align with our Objectives. If the Member has multiple streams of business, the Member can only use IAC Funding to support IP activities in a business stream that falls within at least one of the DDCT categories in Table 1.
Schedule 1
| Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Policy Aggregate (any one claim or series of related claim) | $1,000,000 CAD |
| Patent Infringement & Contractual Obligation Defence | $1,000,000 CAD |
| IP Rights Infringement & Contractual Obligation Defence | $1,000,000 CAD |
| Invalidation Actions Defence | $250,000 CAD |
| IP Rights Opposition Defence | $250,000 CAD |
| IP Rights Title Defence | $250,000 CAD |
| Reputation & Brand Protection | $100,000 CAD |
| Patent Infringement Pursuit | $500,000 CAD |
| IP Rights Infringement Pursuit | $500,000 CAD |
| Breach of Contract Pursuit | $250,000 CAD |
| Loss of an IP Right | $100,000 CAD |
| Loss of Future Profit | $100,000 CAD |
Please contact us by e-mail at member@ipcollective.ca.
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