Learn about the four Indigenous organizations receiving this year’s Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grant.
The application period for the 2025-2026 grants is closed.
On this page
- About the Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grant
- Apply for a grant
- Purpose of the grants
- Grant recipients
- Featured projects
- Additional resources
- Contact us
About the Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grant
The Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grant is a funding program designed to offer Indigenous Peoples additional support to understand and access Canada's Intellectual Property (IP) system.
A total of $150,000 in non-repayable grants is available each year. The grants fund eligible Indigenous organizations’ initiatives and projects related to IP, and Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cultural expressions. They can also fund participation in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sessions.
What do the grants fund?
Total program funding in the amount of $150,000 per fiscal year is available to support travel, initiatives and projects relating to IP, Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cultural expressions under three distinct streams:
- WIPO Travel
- Grants up to $6,000 to help Indigenous organizations participate in WIPO sessions and events related to IP and Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cultural expressions.
- Small-Scale Initiatives
- Grants up to $15,000 for IP-related initiatives on a small scale, that are short-term and narrowly focused.
- Projects
- Grants up to $50,000 for IP-related projects that are more complex or comprehensive than Small-Scale Initiatives, requiring more resources over a longer period of time.
Learn more about each stream and eligible activities in the Program Guide.
Apply for a grant
Review the Program Guide to understand the eligibility requirements and merit criteria used to score applications and select grant recipients.
Purpose of the grants
The grants are a part of the Indigenous IP Program initiatives, which were developed under Canada's Intellectual Property Strategy. The grants are a part the Indigenous IP Program initiatives, which were developed under Canada’s Intellectual Property Strategy. The grants aim to promote a more inclusive IP system for Indigenous Peoples, through initiatives focused on education, awareness raising and capacity building.
The purpose of the grants is to:
- Explore ways to make the IP system more accessible to Indigenous Peoples;
- Facilitate and encourage Indigenous Peoples' strategic use of the IP system to protect their innovations and creations;
- Support Indigenous-led development of tools, guidelines or protocols with respect to the protection and use of IP and IP-related Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions and;
- Increase participation of Indigenous Peoples in domestic and international discussions on IP, Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions.
In support of this purpose, the primary focus of the Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grants is on:
- Education: activities and projects that empower more Indigenous Peoples to understand how the IP system can work for them, including developing IP strategies for protecting Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions, or developing educational materials, training or guides.
- Awareness: activities that help Indigenous Peoples and communities build awareness about IP, Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions, including developing protocols or research.
- Capacity building: developing and strengthening IP-related skills and resources for organizations and communities, including establishing relationships and sharing knowledge, developing policy proposals, and/or representing Indigenous Peoples in international discussions.
See Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights and the Protection of Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Expressions in Canada for more information about the relationship between IP, Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cultural expressions.
The Indigenous Intellectual Property Program aligns with Government's broader commitments towards reconciliation, recognition of Indigenous rights and the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Grant recipients
Through this program, the Government of Canada has funded several Indigenous organizations over the last few years.
2025-2026
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
Featured projects
Discover how this grant helps Indigenous organizations protect and promote their IP.
Additional resources
- Indigenous Intellectual Property Program grant - Program Guide
- Discover the Indigenous Intellectual Property Program
- Learn more about Intellectual Property
Contact us
For any questions, contact us at: IndigenousIP-PIAutochtones@ised-isde.gc.ca