IP financing - Women
Last Update: July 31, 2025
Canada
Supports women in advancing business through intellectual property funding
IP financing - Women at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $15,000
Timeline
- Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Grant Providers
- Innovation asset collective (IAC)
Program status
Open
Overview of the IP financing - Women program
The IP Financing - Women grant offered by CAI provides targeted financial support to address gender imbalance within the intellectual property (IP) sector, assisting eligible women, cis and trans individuals, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. The program supports activities aligned with a company's IP strategy, particularly for technology-driven SMEs, by funding costs that help commercialize innovations and strengthen patent portfolios, with eligibility for both full and associate CAI members.
Eligible projects & activities
- Advancing intellectual property strategies to commercialize business innovations.
- Expanding and strengthening patent portfolios for data-driven clean technology SMEs.
- Initiatives that support competitiveness and growth through the use of intellectual property.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 50,000
IP strategy implementation for solar-powered IoT device suite
$ 52,000
Developing and protecting IP portfolio for smart water sensors
$ 59,000
Scaling commercialization of bio-based data analytics for agriculture
$ 46,000
Trademark and patenting of eco-friendly building material innovation
$ 67,000
Filing international patents for AI-enabled carbon capture system
$ 57,000
Launching commercialization plan for upcycled waste-to-energy process
Eligibility criteria of the IP financing - Women program
- The applicant must be a member in good standing of the CAI, either as a full or associate member.
- The applicant or its representative must identify as a woman, including cis, trans, non-binary, or other gender diverse identities as defined by CAI.
- The project must contribute to strengthening the intellectual property (IP) strategy of the organization.
- The proposed use of funds must support the commercialization and revenue-generating potential of the company through IP.
- The applicant should operate in the data-driven clean technology SME sector.
Who is eligible?
- Women-owned businesses (including those led by cis and trans women, non-binary individuals, and people of diverse gender identities, according to self-identification)
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- Members (full or associate) in good standing with CAI (Centre d’aide à l’innovation)
- Tech companies with a focus on clean technology and data-driven solutions
Eligibility criteria of the IP financing - Women program
- Alignment of requested funds with the organization's intellectual property (IP) strategy.
- Consideration of the commercial impact on the business.
- Alignment with CAI’s mandate to advance the patent portfolios of data-driven clean technology SMEs, supporting their competitiveness and growth.
How to apply to the IP financing - Women program
1
Verify eligibility and membership
- Review membership options for eligibility (full or associate member)
- Confirm adherence to the CAI's eligibility requirements, including recognition of gender identity criteria
2
Prepare documentation for application
- Prepare documentation demonstrating your intellectual property (IP) strategy
- Ensure documents reflect alignment with CAI’s focus on commercialization and revenue generation
3
Submit the application to CAI
- Submit a grant application directly to CAI
- Ensure submission is complete and includes all supporting information
4
Wait for application assessment
- Wait for evaluation based on alignment with IP strategy, commercial impact, and CAI mandates
- Monitor your application’s status for updates or further requirements
Additional information
- The definition of "woman" for this grant includes cis and trans women, non-binary individuals, and anyone who chooses to identify as such.
- All eligible and current members of CAI, whether full or associate, may apply for this grant.
Apply to this program
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