As Canada’s IP leader, IAC understands that we must be pro-active and responsive to gender-based issues to eliminate unintended or unconscious biases within our organization as well in the way in which we offer our programs and services to women.
On December 3, 2021, IAC hosted a forum and round-table discussion focused on women entrepreneurs and Intellectual Property (IP), based on a report conducted in partnership with the University of Windsor. The study’s findings were based on interviews with female-identifying entrepreneurs, innovators, creators, and inventors throughout the summer of 2021. Through a lively panel discussion with the study’s authors and IAC team members, we shared the findings from IAC’s research study on the underrepresentation of women in the IP sphere.
Key takeaways from the research study and panel discussion have been front of mind for the IAC team as we work to create educational programming and gender-based supports for women-identifying professionals in the data-driven cleantech sector. The report recommended action in several areas, and IAC has already responded by creating a grant for our women-owned, -led, and –founded companies in an effort to lower gender-based barriers for protecting IP.
IAC has an ongoing commitment to our staff, member companies, and beyond to continue to look for new opportunities to foster inclusion and representation across all areas of IP Education & Strategy. For more information about our gender-based programming and Canadian Women in IP initiatives contact cwip@ipcollective.ca.
Note: The Eligibility criteria for this program include member companies led, founded, owned/co-owned by women, including cis and trans women, two-spirited, non-binary, gender-diverse individuals, and anyone who chooses to identify as such.
If you missed IAC’s inaugural forum on Women Entrepreneurs & IP or would like to view our study on the Underrepresentation of Women in the IP sphere here, you can watch a recording of the event or download a copy of the report here:
Inaugural Forum for Women Entrepreneurs & IP
On December 3, 2021, IAC hosted an inaugural forum focused on the results of our recent study in partnership with the University of Windsor on the underrepresentation of women in the IP system.
Study on the Underrepresentation of Women in the IP Sphere
The mandate of this study was to engage in a consultation process to better understand women’s experiences in navigating the IP system and, pursuant to the findings of the consultation, to develop and implement specialized education and support initiatives for IAC members in the data-driven cleantech (DDCT) sector.
