An intellectual property (IP) strategy is vital for businesses, particularly startups aiming to scale up and expand their operations. With support from the provincial government, George Brown offers education and funding for entrepreneurs looking to protect their ideas and innovations.
On October 2, the team from Intellectual Property Ontario, or IPON, including CEO Paul Paolatto, spent the day at George Brown and participated in a showcase featuring college-supported businesses at Limberlost Place.
Last year, George Brown received $250,000 in IP Ontario funding, which we used to foster innovation and growth in the local entrepreneurship community, support IP activities at George Brown, and promote IP awareness through events and outreach. More than half of the funding went directly to 11 Ontario businesses George Brown supports, the majority of which are identified as equity deserving. These companies received help in registering their IP, securing their future growth.
Prioritizing emerging sectors
These businesses George Brown supports serve key sectors, including health and med tech, transformative applications of artificial intelligence (AI) across various fields, and developments in advanced manufacturing.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is also supported throughout George Brown IP programming and activities.
This year, we've received $295,000 in funding, with $100,000 earmarked to directly support small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.
Learn more about Commercialization Services at George Brown.
George Brown President Dr. Gervan Fearon, Associate Vice-President of Research and Innovation Dr. Krista Holmes, and Commercialization and IP Mobilization Manager Andrea Orazi, outlined how the college continues to build its IP portfolio and detailed for the IPON team how the college promotes innovation and economic growth through these activities.
The IPON team then met with six businesses that received IPON funding through George Brown. After the showcase, there was a networking opportunity and a tour of George Brown's new mass-timber building, Limberlost Place.
As a proud polytechnic institution, George Brown's IP and applied research activities demonstrate the industry-focused education and opportunities we provide that support the provincial economy.
The following companies participated in our event with IPON on Oct. 2:
To learn more about all the small and medium-sized businesses and startups we support, read the Supporting Innovation and Commercialization in Ontario - 2024 2025 Impact Report.
