If your business receives a Canadian grant, you might wonder who owns the things you invent or create. In most cases, intellectual property (IP) created with grant funding is owned by your business, not the government—unless the program rules or your funding agreement say otherwise.
Knowing who owns intellectual property created with Canadian grant funding is important before you sign any agreement. It affects your ability to sell, license, or use what you build.
There is no single rule for IP that covers all Canadian grants. Ownership depends on the specific program, the funding agreement, and whether you have any partners.
Still, most Canadian business grants follow the same basic ideas.
For most federal and provincial programs:
This helps businesses grow and innovate, not give control to the government.
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is one of the country’s largest innovation support programs.
Even when NRC IRAP offers technical help, the IP stays with the company—not the government.
GrantHub makes it easier to compare grant programs and see which ones include IP-related conditions.
While ownership usually stays with you, some grants include limited government rights. These are common and not the same as ownership.
You may see clauses such as:
These clauses let the government use your results but do not stop you from commercializing your work.
Ownership rules can be different if:
In these cases, IP ownership is often shared or negotiated in advance through collaboration agreements—written agreements between partners about how IP will be shared.
Never rely on assumptions. Always review the funding agreement, not just the program summary.
Pay close attention to sections labelled:
If language is unclear, ask the program officer for written clarification before signing.
Each program sets its own terms. Even two federal grants can treat IP differently.
A requirement to share results or reports does not mean the government owns your IP.
If you work with a university, incubator, or consortium, separate IP agreements may override grant terms.
Once the agreement is signed, changing IP terms is extremely difficult.
Q: Does the Canadian government take ownership of patents created with grant money?
No. In most business-focused grant programs, your company owns the patents. The government may retain limited usage rights but not ownership.
Q: Can I commercialize IP developed with Canadian grant funding?
Yes. Commercialization is usually encouraged and often a core program objective. Some grants may require progress reporting on commercialization outcomes.
Q: What if I work with a university on a grant-funded project?
University partnerships often involve shared or negotiated IP. Ownership depends on the collaboration agreement—written agreements between partners about how IP will be shared—not just the grant rules.
Q: Do repayable contributions change IP ownership?
No. Repayable funding affects repayment terms, not IP ownership. IP rights are defined separately in the agreement.
Q: Can a funder stop me from selling my IP?
Rarely. Restrictions usually apply only to national security, confidentiality, or misuse of public branding.
IP ownership is usually in your favour, but only if you understand the fine print. Before applying, check how each program handles intellectual property created with Canadian grant funding.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada and highlights key conditions like IP rights—so you can focus on funding that fits your business goals.
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