Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Conestoga has received $361,000 in funding from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) to support the continued success of the college’s Centre for Commercialization (C4C) and expand IP services for industry partners.
This marks the fourth consecutive year Conestoga has received funding from IPON to enhance IP capacity and commercialization support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, and applied research partners across the region.
“Many businesses recognize the importance of intellectual property but face barriers when it comes to navigating the process,” said Saleh Jiddawi, interim executive director of Research & Innovation. "This funding allows C4C to continue providing practical, accessible support that helps partners protect their innovations and move toward commercialization.”
The continued investment will enable the centre to build on its regional partnerships and expand access to IP services, including ongoing collaboration with Durham College and Sheridan College, which refer entrepreneurs and applied research partners to Conestoga for specialized support.
C4C works with industry and community partners to unlock the value of their intellectual property, offering support across the innovation continuum, from ideation to prototype development to commercialization. Services include IP strategy development, support for patent and trademark filings, and commercialization planning.
Since its launch in 2023, C4C has delivered over 250 IP strategy consultations to startups and SMEs, delivered over 30 IP-focused workshops and presentations designed to increase IP literacy, and contributed to numerous patent and trademark filings, helping strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem and improve commercialization outcomes
About IPON
IPON is a provincial agency that provides intellectual property support and services to help Ontario businesses and researchers innovate and compete in a global economy.
About Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Conestoga
Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Conestoga brings together students, faculty, community partners and industry in collaboration to identify, address and solve challenges across a variety of sectors in our ever-changing economic, social and environmental landscape.
With the largest gathering of research minds at a Canadian college, Conestoga is dedicated to achieving real-world results for partners, recruiting, mentoring and empowering thinkers, problem solvers and thought leaders ready to help change the world, one innovation at a time. Visit Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship to explore capabilities, get inspired by the latest projects or get in touch.