intellectual property support

• Support from a specialized IP firm (chosen by the entrepreneur)

• Financial Assistance for Developing and Implementing an IP Strategy

The company will be required to cover 30% of the cost of the services received, up to a maximum of $100,000.

• Hold a valid NEQ;

• Have its headquarters in Quebec and intend to remain in Canada and expand its operations there;

• Have fewer than 500 employees;

• You must not have exceeded the program's lifetime limit of $100,000.

All activities must be completed by March 15, 2027.

All applications will be reviewed by intellectual property experts to ensure the company’s eligibility for the service.

If your application is eligible, you will receive an email shortly with further information.

To ensure the relevance and impact of the service, each application undergoes a rigorous and structured evaluation process:

Verification of the Application's Eligibility

• As soon as we receive your application, our team will verify that it meets the basic criteria (valid NEQ, headquarters in Quebec, fewer than 500 employees, and a history of receiving funding through this program).

Analysis of the Business Project and IP Needs

• If your application is deemed eligible, your file will then undergo a more in-depth analysis to assess the strength of your business model, the innovative nature of your solution, your growth potential, and your IP maturity and needs. The outcome of this evaluation determines whether you are accepted into the program. Based on the results of your evaluation and the IP needs you have expressed, you will then be directed toward either the “Development” track for your IP strategy or the “Implementation” track.

[“Development” Track]

Bids and Vendor Selection

• If you would like to develop your IP strategy, your application will be directed to this track. You will then need to obtain three proposals from IP firms in order to select the provider you wish to work with.

[“Implementation” Track]

Analysis of IP Maturity and Needs

• If your application is directed toward this track, you will be asked to submit your IP strategy so that our advisors and intellectual property experts can ensure it complies with the department’s standards. If your IP strategy is compliant, you will then be invited to submit a cost estimate along with a form presenting your application to the Evaluation Committee (CoDev). The CoDev will ultimately decide on the viability of your IP strategy and the allocation of your budget. 

Notification and Launch

• If your application is selected, you will receive an official notification via email detailing the next steps to finalize the engagement and begin working with the specialized IP firm of your choice.

It is important to note that applications are now submitted through the MAIN Portal: start by completing your MAIN profile so you can access the momentumPI application form.

The strategy presented as part of momentumPI must have been discussed in advance with an intellectual property expert.

All of the activities required to develop the IP strategy were successfully completed, namely:

• Review of documents and processes to gain a better understanding of the company’s business context and identify strategic IP assets that support its growth. The following activities are expected, among others: getting up to speed on the company’s operations; identifying and reviewing its IP assets; and reviewing internal processes that support the IP strategy. These initial reviews should result in recommendations on areas for creating value for the company, in order to guide the further development of the IP strategy.

• Conducting various research and analyses to establish the company’s IP strategy. Specifically: an analysis of competitors and their IP assets (assessing the company’s IP positioning relative to competitors based on database searches) as well as an in-depth analysis of the company’s own IP assets. These analyses must be aligned with the company’s business strategy (this involves, in particular, an analysis of the business model for the IP held, the identification of innovations in the field and market trends, the identification of needs for new IP or partnerships, the identification of potential partners, the identification of other factors that may influence the IP landscape, and a FFOM analysis of the IP).

• Recommendations on Implementing the IP Strategy.