Canada’s future as a global innovation leader depends on our ability to protect, own and harness intellectual property. To address this dependency, several programs and agencies have increased IP awareness and support to SMEs. While this investment has created a number of positive outcomes to date, there is much more to do. The fragmentation of IP education resources and concentration on building awareness rather than teaching implementation leaves many businesses, researchers, entrepreneurs, and students underprepared to navigate complexities of the innovation economy.
Representatives from New Ventures BC, Innovation Asset Collective (IAC), Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), and Innovate BC authored a proposal for national alignment on the approach to the creation and delivery of IP education for Canadian innovation businesses and post-secondary institutions, to address long standing systemic IP literacy gaps. Through a National IP Competency Framework, we can work together to build IP educational resources that foster a culture of IP fluency, give life to innovation, accelerate commercialization, and strengthen Canada’s economy for generations to come.
Building the capacity of Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs to scale their businesses requires IP education that is focused on IP strategy and building capabilities within businesses to commercialize IP. We need to foster IP savvy business leaders. Coordination across the ecosystem to define outcomes and clear educational roadmaps will accelerate this process for business and reduce the friction entrepreneurs face with the current system.
Mike McLean, CEO, Innovation Asset Collective
To Support This Initiative and Sign On For Next Steps:
Please send an email to ipwhitepaper@newventuresbc.com with subject header (Whitepaper Supporter) with your contact name(s) and information.
