Intellectual Property Office

Intellectual property is the legal right to ideas, inventions and creations in the industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields. It also covers symbols, names, images, designs and models used in business. Without realizing it, your business may be creating IP assets that should be protected.

Invest Nova Scotia

Invest Nova Scotia enables the bold. With strategic investments, we support community-based projects that spark innovation and collaboration and build stronger, more competitive sectors and regions.

Invest Nova Scotia – Export Growth Program

The Export Growth Program supports businesses looking to increase their export sales outside of Nova Scotia. The program provides financial incentives for projects that assist a business’ ability to overcome barriers to export growth. This includes: Supporting travel to marketassociated with visiting a client, potential partner, or investor in another market, or inviting a foreign client and/or potential partner to visit the Nova Scotia operation; and Mitigating trade show/conference costsby funding floor space, conference fees, travel and accommodation costs. The Export Growth Program contributes up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $15,000 CAD for a business to: Travel to a market outside of Nova Scotia to attend a trade show, conference or to visit clients, potential partners or investors; Have foreign clients, potential partners or investors visit the business’ Nova Scotia facilities for the first time.

Invest Nova Scotia – Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) offers the only national professional designation that recognizes an individuals’ experience in international trade. The Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation is the highest level of professional accreditation for international business and trade professionals in Canada. A CITP must meet rigorous education, training, and experience requirements and make a commitment to adhere to the Standards of Ethical Conduct established by FITT.

Invest Nova Scotia – Innovation Rebate Program

The Innovation Rebate Program supports Nova Scotia businesses looking to increase their global competitiveness. The program provides financial incentives on projects that enable a company to increase innovation capacity through private-sector capital investments or adoption of new technologies and business processes. The Innovation Rebate Program will work as a rebate against a company’s direct costs. An Eligible Project may include: implementation of new or significantly improved production processes or waste stream processing; investment in production capacity to enter new markets and/or produce new products; and establishment of new production facilities in Nova Scotia. An Eligible Project must have a total budgeted Nova Scotia investment (excluding tax) of not less than $2,000,000. The maximum amount of Eligible Project Costs to which the Innovation Rebate Program rebate will be applied is $15,000,000.

Invest Nova Scotia – Innovation Rebate Program

The Innovation Rebate Program (IRP) provides financial incentives for projects that assist Nova Scotia companies as they scale to increase their competitiveness.

Invest Nova Scotia – Payroll Rebate

A payroll rebate is an earned incentive, paid out yearly after a company achieves pre-determined targets. The rebate is a return on a company’s eligible gross payroll. It is issued over a set number of years – usually between three and five – and to a set amount. This means that for every dollar a company spends in salaries and benefits, Invest Nova Scotia rebates back a negotiated percentage. The payroll rebate agreement includes performance targets that a company must achieve in order to receive the rebate, including: Number of new positions created Average annual salary

Invest Nova Scotia – Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program

The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program helps small and medium sized companies access direct assistance to help make their business more productive and innovative. The program lets businesses seek out expertise within post-secondary institutions to: Improve productivity Develop a new product, service, or process Create growth There are two tiers of the Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program. Tier 1: Vouchers of up to $15,000 for eligible businesses that have not previously been awarded a voucher or are applying with a new project. Tier 2: Vouchers of up to $25,000 for eligible businesses to build on work already done. Vouchers are used to obtain services from eligible service providers. Businesses must select a provider and service that best fits their needs.

Invest Nova Scotia – Small Business Development Program

The Small Business Development Program supports Nova Scotia businesses looking to increase their export capacity. The program provides financial incentives on projects that assist a business to grow current exports or participate in a global supply chain by providing access to: Research expertise Expertise to improve productivity and competitiveness Expertise to improve capacity Expertise to remove barriers to exporting The Small Business Development Program supports the acquisition of a private sector consultant to provide professional expertise. The program contributes up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum incentive of $15,000. A business with revenue growth of at least 15% in its previous complete fiscal year will be eligible for up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000.

Invest Nova Scotia – Trade Accelerator Program (TAP)

Nova Scotia Business Inc., in partnership with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to offer the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP). The program welcomes eligible businesses from across Nova Scotia to apply.  TAP is an innovative and dynamic program aimed at helping enterprises overcome barriers to exporting.  The program is quickly gaining momentum across Canada, and has a reputation of achieving real results, fast.