The Canadian Intellectual Property Office invites entrepreneurs who own small or medium-sized businesses in Canada to participate in round-table discussions this fall

Photo of a round table

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is hosting a series of round-table discussions with small and medium-sized business owners to better understand the challenges and barriers they face in using the intellectual property (IP) system.

CIPO's goal is to develop new products and tools that can better serve Canadian entrepreneurs' economic growth and innovation potential. To achieve this, CIPO needs your input.

Each round table is expected to run approximately 2.5 hours and will touch on the following topics:

  • IP application process
  • knowledge of IP and information tools
  • IP strategy
  • challenges faced when using the Canadian IP system

Round-table sessions are currently scheduled to take place between November 21 and December 11, 2012, in the following cities across Canada.

Halifax: November 21–22 (English sessions)
Industry Canada office
November 21 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)
November 21 (1:30 to 4:00 p.m.)
November 22 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)

Montréal: November 28–29 (French sessions)
Industry Canada office
November 28 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)
November 28 (1:30 to 4:00 p.m.)
November 29 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)

Edmonton: December 5–6 (English sessions)
Edmonton Technology Park
December 5 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)
December 5 (1:30 to 4:00 p.m.)
December 6 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)

Toronto: December 11 (English sessions)
Ryerson University
December 11 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)
December 11 (1:30 to 4:00 p.m.)

Waterloo: December 12 (English sessions)
Communitech
December 12 (9:00 to 11:30 a.m.)
December 12 (1:30 to 4:00 p.m.)

Ottawa: December 10–11 (English sessions)
Invest Ottawa
These sessions will run for 90 minutes.
December 10 (1:00 to 2:30 p.m.)
December 10 (3:00 to 4:30 p.m.)
December 11 (9:30 to 11:00 a.m.)

Interested? For more information or to RSVP, please contact us at roundtables@ic.gc.ca.