Chief Executive Officer
I am pleased to present the IP Canada Report 2022, the seventh instalment of an annual series initiated in 2016 by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). The objective of these reports is to provide an analysis of intellectual property (IP) activity in Canada and by Canadians, featuring key insights from our ongoing data and research endeavours.
This report presents the latest IP trends for Canada, based on data from CIPO, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). These insights do more than informing decision-making processes; they demonstrate CIPO's proficiency in conducting rigorous IP and innovation research, and developing cutting-edge data science methodologies.
CIPO continues to adopt a collaborative approach with its Canadian and international research partners. This collaboration enriches our ability to generate evidence-based insights that aid decision-makers in navigating the opportunities associated with IP. For instance, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CIPO has been committed to understanding the effects of lockdown measures, and their resulting economic upheavals on IP users and innovators. The IP Canada Report 2022 highlights the resilience and adaptability of Canadian businesses. To discern the sectors that flourished or struggled amidst the crisis, CIPO employed sophisticated data techniques to analyze trademark application data, which are detailed in this report. In addition, and in line with the Government of Canada's commitment to a green recovery and combating climate change, this report includes an overview of CIPO's ongoing research into patent activity within the clean technology sectors.
In 2022, CIPO's Five-Year Business Strategy came to an end. The plan was shaped by national IP Strategy activities in support of the Government's Innovation and Skills Plan, which aims to transform Canada into a global innovation hub. Key achievements during this period included implementing international treaties such as the Hague Agreement, the Madrid Protocol, the Singapore Treaty, the Nice Agreement, and the Patent Law Treaty. These treaties connect Canada's IP system to the world, helping businesses acquire reliable, high-quality IP rights that will be recognized across jurisdictions.
As part of the national IP Strategy, CIPO made significant strides in its Data & Research Agenda through collaboration with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and Statistics Canada. Together, we conducted the first nation-wide survey to assess use and awareness of IP among Canadian firms, profile IP users and potential users, and understand the economic impacts and contributions of IP.
These annual reports are possible thanks to CIPO's talented researchers and data scientists, and the invaluable support of our research partners. It is my privilege to present to you the IP Canada Report 2022.
Konstantinos Georgaras
Chief Executive Officer
Acknowledgements
For more information on the research included in this report, email cipo-ipresearch-opic-recherchepi@ised-isde.gc.ca.
Authors
- Sean Martineau, Acting Director of Business Improvement Services and Acting Data Steward, Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Diego Santilli, Senior Economist, Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Gray Barski, Economist, Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Collaborators
- Mazahir Bhagat, Data Scientist, Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Marc de Wit, Examiner, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Alexander Lehmann, Junior Data Scientist, Canadian Intellectual Property Office