Patent Collective Program — Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Canada's first patent collective for cleantech SMEs. Full Members receive up to $50,000/year in grant funding plus $15,000 in IP credits, IP insurance covering freedom-to-operate disputes, and access to 200+ patents and expert IP strategy support. Associate Members (pre-revenue/early-stage) receive up to $15,000/year at no cost. Designed to help Canadian cleantech companies protect and leverage IP as they scale globally.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian SME in the cleantech sector
- Full Member: fewer than 500 employees at startup or scale-up stage
- Associate Member: fewer than 25 employees AND less than $500,000 in annual revenue (early-stage startups)
- Must operate in data-driven cleantech — clean energy, climate tech, sustainable agriculture, water, waste, or related sectors
- Incorporated in Canada (federal or provincial)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $50,000/year for Full Members; up to $15,000/year for Associates (free tier)
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing (rolling applications)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win IAC — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 4-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for IAC? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipFull Membership costs $15,000/year but delivers up to $50,000 in grants plus $15,000 in IP credits — a net positive of up to $50,000 annually before counting the value of IP insurance and patent portfolio access. For early-stage cleantech startups under $500K revenue, the free Associate tier ($15,000/year in grants) is a no-brainer with zero cash outlay. Apply early in the fiscal year to maximize grant utilization — funds are allocated annually and early members tend to access resources faster.
Success Profile
Canadian cleantech startup or scale-up with 1–500 employees actively developing or commercializing clean technology with IP exposure risk. Companies in clean energy, climate tech, sustainable agriculture, water technology, or waste management. Particularly valuable for companies considering international expansion where IP protection is critical.
Evaluation Criteria
Membership assessed on cleantech focus, SME eligibility, and alignment with IAC's mandate to build Canadian IP capacity. Grant usage evaluated on IP activity relevance — patent filings, FTO analyses, and IP strategy work are core uses. IAC prioritizes members with genuine IP exposure and commercialization plans.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 4
Eligible Expenses 6
- Patent prosecution and filing costs (domestic and international)
- Freedom-to-operate (FTO) searches and legal opinions
- IP landscape and competitive intelligence reports
- Patent portfolio strategy consulting
- IP upskilling and education
- IP insurance premiums (covered by IAC for Full Members)
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Non-IP legal costs
- Product development or R&D (not IP-specific)
- General business consulting
- Marketing and sales
- Operating costs
Intake Periods
Rolling — applications accepted year-round with no fixed intake windows.
Deadline Notes
Applications accepted on a rolling basis. IAC reviews membership applications continuously with no fixed intake windows. Membership for each program year activates upon approval.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses outside Canada
- Companies with 500+ employees
- Non-cleantech businesses
- Non-incorporated entities
- Government organizations
- Universities and academic institutions (focused on SMEs)
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskNo clawback provisions published. Grant funds must be used for eligible IP activities during the membership year. Unused funds do not roll over.
How IAC Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about IAC