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ExploreIP

Q: Who is eligible for the ExploreIP program?

To be eligible for the ExploreIP program, you must: The intellectual property must be owned by a Canadian public sector institution, such as federal, provincial, or territorial governments, research institutes, academia, hospitals, or eligible not-for-profit organizations.

Q: Where is the ExploreIP available?

The ExploreIP program is available across Canada.

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the ExploreIP?

ExploreIP is funded by Innovation Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Government of Canada (GC)

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the ExploreIP?

You can contact Innovation Canada.

Last Update: March 4, 2026

Canada

Find Intellectual Property available for licensing or collaboration

Other Support

Expert Advice

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Overview

Visit ExploreIP to access thousands of IP assets available for collaboration and held by Canadian academic, government and other research institutions

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

Develop strategic partnerships

Research and experimental development

Conduct research

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Unspecified

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

All industries

Location

Canada

Legal structures

For-profit business

Annual revenue

All revenue ranges

Organisation size

All organization sizes

Audience

All groups

Activities funded

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 50,000

Collaborating with government research institutions for IP in sustainable energy

$ 50,000

Establishing a partnership with public institutions for renewable energy IP

$ 35,000

Creating a collaborative research platform to study COVID-19 related technologies

$ 50,000

Acquiring IP licenses for COVID-19 vaccine distribution technologies

$ 50,000

Developing and licensing COVID-19 diagnostic technologies from academic institutions

$ 50,000

Innovative research on antiviral treatments using licensed IP from public sector

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

ExploreIP is a tool designed for businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators interested in discovering and potentially licensing intellectual property (IP) held by Canadian public sector institutions. It facilitates access to IP owned by the government, academia, research institutes, hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations involved in research and innovation. ExploreIP is particularly useful for entities looking to collaborate with these institutions on groundbreaking research or innovative projects.

Eligible expenses

The current information about ExploreIP and the associated grants or projects does not specify eligible projects or activities in detail. It mainly outlines the purpose and utility of ExploreIP as a tool for accessing public sector intellectual property.

How to apply

Identify your intellectual property (IP) that is held by a public sector institution.

Access the ExploreIP database to search for existing IP held by government, academia, or other public sector institutions.

Use the search functionality of ExploreIP to find specific IP that aligns with your innovation or business needs.

Review the details of the IP listings to determine suitability for licensing or collaboration.

Contact the IP holders directly through the ExploreIP platform to discuss licensing options or potential collaborative projects.

Enter into negotiations with the IP holders for licensing or collaboration agreements (note: ExploreIP does not provide legal advice or support for these negotiations).

Finalize the licensing or collaboration agreements and proceed with your innovation or business plans utilizing the licensed IP.

Additional information

ExploreIP is a platform that aids businesses and innovators in discovering intellectual property held by public sector institutions, promoting collaboration and innovation. It does not directly engage in negotiations or provide legal support but offers a valuable resource for locating and contacting IP owners.

The ExploreIP team promotes the tool and featured IP through various channels.
It launched as part of Canada’s National Intellectual Property Strategy.
Explores technology categories relevant to COVID-19 to aid in the pandemic response.
IP opportunities are currently limited to public sector institutions.

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the ExploreIP Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the ExploreIP. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.