IP safeguards clean technologies
As clean technology and green energy continue to accelerate, innovation and investment in the cleantech industry thrives when supported by vigorous intellectual property protection.
Cleantech companies span a variety of sectors which are developing technologies that seek to cut emissions, improve the environment and reduce the consumption of natural resources. It is vital that companies in this important industry develop and incorporate an IP strategy that aligns with business strategy to increase profitability and protect valuable innovation.
Canada – a powerhouse in cleantech innovation
The Government of Canada is setting clean technology innovation as a priority, making Canada one of the most lucrative markets for cleantech companies. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has established that green technology initiatives, patent protection in particular, are among the most important incentives that encourage private investment in cleantech in Canada. Coupled with leading-edge innovation clusters and an abundance of natural resources, Canada is poised to be a global leader in clean technology.
The worldwide focus on climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas is also driving the growing global market for clean technologies, and governments worldwide are prioritizing clean technology innovations. This strong international commitment is making IP protection more and more critical.
Our depth of expertise is unmatched
Our strength and experience in biotechnology, engineering and chemistry, put us at the forefront of the cleantech industry and enable us to assist our clients with cleantech innovations across any field of technology. Our team collaborates with IP practitioners around the world to secure protection for Canadian inventions abroad, as well as protection for innovation in Canada.
From ground-breaking startups to some of the largest innovators in the world, each of our clients has a unique set of goals and challenges. Smart & Biggar provides unmatched ability to creatively and strategically safeguard our clients’ innovation.
Technical expertise
For more than a century, Smart & Biggar has been on the leading edge of innovation and change relating to all aspects of technology, and our depth of technical experience remains unrivalled.
Cleantech innovation relies on a variety of technical disciplines, and the understanding of complex technologies is vital to effective IP counsel. With the combined strength of our technical depth in clean technologies and our IP expertise, our team delivers integrated, forward-thinking solutions.
We are the largest firm in Canada specializing in intellectual property law and our experienced and highly skilled lawyers and agents possess unmatched technical expertise across technical disciplines. We understand complex technologies and provide effective and efficient IP counsel leveraging our combined strengths and technical depth and our IP expertise to deliver integrated and forward-thinking solutions.
Legal expertise
Smart & Biggar is committed to protecting cleantech innovation through precise and focused intellectual property enforcement and litigation where required to maximize business opportunity and market share.
Our award winning team of leading IP litigators has appeared at the highest appellate levels of common law and civil law courts, representing clients in both of Canada’s official languages. Having appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada on more than 50 occasions, we have handled a significant share of Canada’s most commercially important and technically complex intellectual property law cases, many of which are leading Canadian precedents.
Our combination of legal expertise and advanced technical training in relevant subspecialties enable us to offer unparalleled IP protection. We are leading experts in patent drafting and prosecution, litigation proceedings, transactions involving the acquisition and licensing of new technologies and strategic management of international and domestic patent and industrial design portfolios.
Key Contacts
Client Success
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Nolan v Silex International Chemical Systems Inc
T-1109-94Successfully represented the plaintiff in resisting the intervenor Business Development Bank’s motion to quash the sale and distribution of the proceeds of the court sale of the defendant Silex'...Read More -
Asset acquisition of clean tech company
IP counsel for a French multinational in an asset acquisition of a U.S.-based and VC-backed clean tech company.Read More -
Strategic IP document for cleantech company
Strategic IP document for a Canadian-based venture-backed clean tech company and to assist in implementation.Read More -
License agreements for cleantech engineering company
IP counsel for a Quebec-based clean tech engineering company in negotiating, structuring and drafting potential license agreements with the world’s largest nonprofit research and development org...Read More -
Design and development agreement for cleantech company
IP counsel for a Quebec VC-backed clean tech company in structuring, negotiating and drafting IP aspects of a design and development agreement with a global agricultural equipment manufacturer.Read More -
IP financing of cleantech start-up
IP counsel for Quebec-based and Paris-based co-investors in the financing of a Quebec-based clean tech start-up.Read More -
Licensing agreement for cleantech engineering company
IP counsel for a Quebec-based clean tech engineering company in negotiating, structuring and drafting a license and collaboration agreement with a leading public utility company.Read More -
Unparalleled Expertise in Cleantech
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IAM
Four leading patent lawyers
2012IAM Licensing 250 - The World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers -
IAM
Four leading patent lawyers
2010IAM Licensing 250 - The World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers
Related Publications & Articles
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CIPO shines spotlight on patenting in climate change mitigation technologies
With the Paris climate agreement having recently come into effect, climate change mitigation technologies have been the focus of widespread discussion and debate.Read More -
The State of IP in Canada
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) has issued a report entitled IP Canada Report 2016, discussing trends in IP use domestically, and by Canadians abroad, based on analysis of CIPO’s in...Read More -
Green light for green patenting in Canada
The race to patent "green" inventions in Canada is in full swing.Read More -
Evergreen IP — Patenting clean energy technologies
Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh’s Daphne C. Lainson examines the drive behind green IP in the November issues of Intellectual Property Magazine.Clean, green, environmentally friendly, eco-fri...Read More
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Daphne Lainson named a WIPR Influential Woman in IP
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Nancy Pei named one of the world’s 'Top 250 Women in IP' for the third consecutive year
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Smart & Biggar connects with leaders in innovation and technology at OCE Discovery
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