IP Education Program

Introducing the IP Education Program – an important resource for today’s knowledge economy.

Intellectual Property (IP) is a critical element of the global innovation economy. It generates value and wealth for individuals, companies and countries. It also allows us to ensure the health and well-being of our population by creating a system of protections for inventors who want to share new medicines and technologies with the world. While successfully protecting and leveraging IP has become an important factor for many entrepreneurs and their startups, basic IP Literacy is a skill that will help all of us in today’s world.

The IP Education Program is an accessible free, online training program designed to equip students, faculty and staff with a broad foundation in intellectual property.

Registration open on a rolling basis. If you are an entrepreneur, researcher or student, register now to learn about your IP rights, why they matter, and how IP strategies can be applied in business.

Why IP Matters

Did you know that businesses with a higher awareness of IP and those that hold formal IP are much more likely to experience higher growth, expand their markets, and receive various types of financing?

As intellectual property becomes an increasingly important driver in economic prosperity, the need to bridge the IP awareness gap for innovators and entrepreneurs has never been more relevant.

Program Breakdown

The IP Education Program consists of two levels, Level 1: IP Foundations and Level 2: IP Strategy and Application. For each level, learners are expected to spend 2-4 hours completing modules and associated quizzes. Online modules will also be supplemented year-round by by relatable case studies, optional instructor-led workshops and expert panel sessions to provide learners with exposure to practitioners, thought leaders and entrepreneurs. Attendance at these workshops and events is not required but is highly recommended.

Did you know?

Small- or medium-sized businesses that hold formal registered IP are:

CCR Recognition

U of T students who successfully complete each level will receive recognition on their Co-Curricular Record (CCR) as a Knowledge Creation and Innovation credential for Level 1 and Strategic Thinking or Reflective Thinking credential for Level 2.

Registration

The IP Education Program is available for free to U of T students from all disciplines, as well as post‐doctorate fellows, faculty and staff on Quercus. Alumni with an active UTORID may also register. Alumni without an active UTORID should contact the Reader Registration desk before registering for the IP Education Program to request a temporary UTORID and forward the details to ipeducation.entrepreneurship@utoronto.ca to gain access to Quercus.

Registration for this program is on a rolling basis and is meant to be completed at your own pace. Both Level 1 and Level 2 are now open. Please follow the links below to learn more and register.

IP Matters: Know Your Rights
Celebrating the Launch of U of T’s IP Education Program

On November 12, in celebration of the launch of the IP Education Program, The University of Toronto hosted a presentation and interactive fireside chat on the importance of IP Rights and the opportunities presented when we are able to successfully protect and commercialize IP in today’s knowledge-based economy.

The panel featured some of Canada’s top IP legal experts and leading entrepreneurs, including Natalie Raffoul, Jim Hinton, Myra Tawfik, and Saara Virani. The Honourable Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, also gave remarks on the importance of IP Rights to Ontario’s economic growth.