Safeguard Your Intellectual Property with ElevateIP
The ElevateIP program is a federally funded, nationwide initiative designed to empower Canadian startups with the critical resources needed to understand, develop, and protect their intellectual property (IP) assets. These vital assets can define, defend, and differentiate your business.
Applications for ElevateIP 1.0 Tier 2 and Tier 3 services closed on June 30, 2025.
ElevateIP 2.0 is coming in 2026!
To be the first to hear about future funding opportunities and IP education, join our info list.
At its core, ElevateIP helps Canadian startups make informed, strategic decisions about their intellectual property. IP is more than just patents—it also includes trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs, and trade secrets. When managed intentionally, these assets play a critical role in protecting innovation, attracting investment, and supporting long-term growth.
Through ElevateIP 1.0, eligible startups could access up to $100,000 in support to develop and implement an IP strategy—reducing financial barriers and enabling companies to protect their innovations earlier and more effectively.
Delivered in partnership with Communitech and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), ElevateIP supports startups through a structured three-tiered approach:
Unlock three levels of IP support
Tier 1: IP Education & Awareness
Build a foundational understanding of intellectual property through expert-led sessions, webinars, and online resources - so you can make informed decisions about IP as your business grows.
*No application or approval necessary for Tier 1 of ElevateIP
Tier 2: IP Strategy Development:
Develop a tailored intellectual property strategy aligned with your business goals. Tier 2 support focuses on strategy and analysis—such as patent mining, prior art and trademark searches, competitive and IP landscape analysis, and advisory guidance—to help you prioritize, plan, and de-risk future IP decisions.
*Access to Tier 2 services is subject to program application, eligibility, and acceptance. Availability is dependent on program intake and funding.
Tier 3: IP Strategy Implementation:
Put your IP strategy into action by implementing approved protection and commercialization activities. Tier 3 support focuses on execution—such as drafting and filing patents or trademarks (following favourable searches), developing IP-related licensing agreements, and conducting open-source audits—to help secure and operationalize your intellectual property.
*Access to Tier 3 services is subject to program application, eligibility, and acceptance. Availability is dependent on program intake, funding, and success with Tier 2.
Through ElevateIP, startups gain the tools, guidance, and knowledge needed to protect and leverage their intellectual property—supporting informed decision-making and long-term business growth.
ElevateIP
ElevateIP 2.0 - coming soon!
Are you a law firm or IP professional interested in getting involved?
Intake is currently paused.
Questions?
For program questions and
support please contact:
Cara Dveris
Senior Manager of ElevateIP
SMEs that own formal intellectual property receive, on average, 3x more financing than businesses without IP.*
By helping founders identify, protect, and manage their IP, ElevateIP supports businesses as they grow and prepare for future opportunities.
*Source: IP Canada Report 2024
“ElevateIP program has been a game-changer for my start-up, POPP3R Cybersecurity, providing us with the education, resources, and support to develop a comprehensive IP strategy. The team at North Forge made the entire process seamless, offering unwavering support and guidance every step of the way. Through the program’s three-tiered approach and the exceptional assistance from TDS Law, a renowned firm specializing in intellectual property, we gained a deep understanding of IP and identified the key assets that set our business apart from competitors. Thanks to ElevateIP and the expertise of TDS Law, we now have a well-defined IP strategy in place, and our company’s assets are protected, giving us a competitive edge in the market.”
“The support from North Forge’s ElevateIP program has been a fantastic resource for entrepreneurs like us. It simplifies the journey, offering essential tools and guidance. ElevateIP has enabled our business to truly adopt and implement a robust IP strategy. Through the program, we’ve been able to level up our NDA and employee contracts while navigating trademarks, copyrights, and patent searches. The program has turned a costly business function into something more accessible for start-ups like ours.”
Why is IP protection important?
“For most start-ups, IP is a key investment in and component of growth and increasing competitive edge in the market. Failing to develop an IP strategy that properly protects the business’s IP rights at the early stages may result in challenges and obstacles later on that could prevent the business from further development and expansion. ”
“It would have been cost-prohibitive for us to obtain IP protection on two of our products at this stage of our journey. Through the ElevateIP program, we were able to secure the necessary patents (pending in the US and Canada) without the extreme cost. The program made IP protection easy and accessible for us.
“Communicating Whistle’s startup innovation without IP Protection was restrictive as we reached out to investors and the wider industry. Very grateful for the ElevateIP program and North Forge for empowering us to stride ahead by ensuring IP Protection and Trademark strategy through an experienced Law firm.”
“Thanks to the ElevateIP Program, we were able to hire an IP consultant who helped us identify our IP assets, assess our IP risks, and prioritize our IP actions. We also received funding to file patent applications for some of our key inventions, which will help us secure our market position and attract investors. The ElevateIP Program has been a game-changer for us.”
“This collaboration with North Forge, ElevateIP, and Bereskin & Parr LLP has not only elevated our IP strategy but also positioned us to make a significant impact in the field of reproductive health. Their combined expertise and support have enabled us to focus on our core mission of helping couples conceive naturally, while ensuring that our intellectual property is protected and leveraged effectively.”
“The devices we have in the pipeline are now being reviewed and assessed by federal law enforcement agencies as well as military defence and research entities. We have also been approached by other foreign representatives based on what they have heard about our progress. The ElevateIP funding support has allowed us to maintain and keep our patent pool updated and fresh. ”
“To be competitive, intellectual property is crucial for any business to create a protective moat around their operations, allowing them to compete effectively in the market. For us, protecting our IP was equally important. However, when we saw the costs associated with legal fees, we were stunned about how we would afford it. That’s why Elevate IP was a natural choice to support us.”
FAQ's
Please find our expression of interest form here:
Intake is now paused. Feel free to contact us at: ip@northforge.ca
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Your startup must be incorporated or registered in Manitoba or Saskatchewan.
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It must be less than fifteen years old.
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You must have fewer than 500 full-time employees.
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And have under $10 million in annual revenue.
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Elevate IP is a federally funded, national program to help business accelerators and incubators (BAIs) provide the tools Canadian startups need to understand, strategically manage and leverage their intellectual property.
Tier 1: IP Education – Receive free online resources that will help in identifying intellectual property strategy gaps.
Tier 2: IP Strategy Development – Gain access to experts for IP assessments and strategy development.
Tier 3: IP Strategy Implementation – Be provided subsidized services when implementing your IP strategy.The ElevateIP 1.0 program launched November 23, 2023 and applications for Tier 2 and Tier 3 services closed on June 30, 2025.
Absolutely. The ElevateIP program is designed so that you can use a lawyer of your choice. Please have your lawyer apply to become one of the ElevateIP Service Providers, by filling out the above EOI (Expression of Interest) and ANNEX-A form.
No. The program is designed to pay the legal fees for the completed work.
Eligible startups may access up to $100,000 in ElevateIP support, subject to application, eligibility, approval, program flow, and funding availability. All services must be justified by the business’s IP needs, approved by an IP Advisor, and aligned with program guidelines. Funding is not guaranteed and varies by startup.
Yes. ElevateIP funding is structured by tier and subject to approval and available funding.
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Tier 2 – IP Strategy Development
Startups may access up to $25,000, fully covered by the program, to support IP strategy development and related analysis.
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Tier 3 – IP Strategy Implementation
Tier 3 operates on a co-investment model and supports the implementation of approved IP activities. The program typically covers 70% to 90% of eligible costs, with the startup responsible for the remaining portion.
Startups that are majority owned (51% or more) by women and/or Indigenous founders are eligible for the maximum 90% program contribution, reflecting ElevateIP’s commitment to supporting equity-deserving entrepreneurs.
All Tier 3 support is subject to IP Advisor approval, business justification, and available program funding.
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New : Founder’s IP Journey
We’re excited to announce a new initiative: the Founder’s IP Journey - a program designed to help startups build early-stage IP awareness and readiness for strategic growth.
As an ElevateIP Tier 1 Education program, the Founder’s IP Journey focuses on IP education, action planning, and foundational IP literacy. This new program is open to a broader audience and serves as a complementary first step before applying to ElevateIP or other IP-focused programs.
ElevateIP Team
North Forge is an ElevateIP Recipient: a national program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, leading in intellectual property supports for startups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
