About the National IP Summit
This one-day, in-person forum is 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, is a one-day forum that will bring 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.
You can expect 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: Sharing lessons from across provinces and paths toward nationwide IP education.
- 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.
18
Nov
8:30 am – 5 pm
National Arts Centre,
Ottawa
Schedule
| Time | Session Summary | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:30 am | Registration & Breakfast | |
| 9:30 – 9:45 am | Opening Remarks | Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) |
| 9:45 – 10:05 am | KEYNOTE: Owning the Global Stage Creating the environment where Canadian innovations stay Canadian-owned and scale international commercialization. | Jim Balsillie, Chair, Innovation Asset Collective and Founder and Chair, Centre for International Governance Innovation |
| 10:05 – 10:25 am | SPEAKER: Canada’s Economic Priorities and Opportunities How can the innovation ecosystem create opportunities from the federal priorities and investments? What gaps are there in the budget and what other ways can those gaps be addressed? | Laurent Carbonneau, Director of Policy & Research, Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) |
| 10:25 – 11:00 am | PANEL: From research to action: Opportunities and Gaps for Canada’s Innovation Ecosystem. | Moderator: Elias Collette, Director General, CIPO — Speakers will be announced soon. |
| 11:00 – 11:20 am | Break | |
| 11:20 – 11:55 am | PANEL: Intelligence Advantage: Canada’s Edge in the Age of AI | Moderator: Neil Desai, Chair, Solace Power and ClearRisk — Speakers will be announced soon. |
| 11:55 am – 12:30 pm | PANEL: Security Advantage: Innovation for Stronger Canadian Defense | Moderator: Sonya Shorey, President & CEO, Invest Ottawa — Speakers will be announced soon. |
| 12:30 – 1:30 pm | Lunch | |
| 1:30 – 2:05 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 — Speakers will be announced soon. |
| 2:05 – 2:25 pm | INDUSTRY KEYNOTE: Challenges and Successes in Scaling Innovative Technologies | To be announced. |
| 2:25 – 2:40 pm | Break | |
| 2:40 – 3:15 pm | PANEL: Resource Advantage: Canada’s Power and Potential | Moderator: Roula Thomas, Vice President, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) — Speakers will be announced soon. |
| 3:15 – 3:30 pm | A unified approach to IP Education | Erin Pisko, VP, IP Strategy, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) |
| 3:30 – 3:40 pm | Minister Remarks | Alexandra Dostal, Sr Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Sector, ISED |
| 3:40 – 3:45 pm | Key Takeaways & Closing Remarks | Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) |
| 3:45 – 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
Useful Links:
Code of Conduct
IAC is committed to providing a safe and welcoming experience at our events for all participants, including speakers, attendees, partners, volunteers, as well as venue, supplier, and IAC staff. We value everyone’s participation and expect participants to help ensure a safe and positive experience for all.
By attending an IAC event, all participants agree to this code of conduct.
Please:
- Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
- Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behaviour.
- Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants.
- Alert event organizers if you witness unacceptable behaviour.
Unacceptable behaviour constitutes:
- Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning conduct.
- Harassment includes offensive oral or written remarks, gestures, display of images or other conduct that demeans, belittles, insults, derides or humiliates an individual or group, or that perpetuates or reinforces pejorative stereotypes.
- Sexual harassment includes unnecessary physical contact, unwanted touching, intrusive sexual questions, comments of a sexual nature, comments about bodies or appearance, and unwelcome sexual solicitations or advances.