OTTAWA: The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a partnership between the two organisations to work together to increase awareness and use of Intellectual Property by Canadian businesses and innovators doing business, or planning to do business in India.
The CIPO is a Special Operating Agency (SOA) of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). CIPO’s areas of activity include trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies.
The ICCC will host a series of conferences and workshops to encourage Canadian businesses and SMEs to trade with India, and CIPO will participate in the events to raise awareness of the importance of developing, protecting and leveraging IP assets.
Kanwar Dhanjal, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), signed the MoU on behalf of the Chamber.
Board members also met with India’s High Commissioner to Canada Vikas Swarup and MPs Bob Saroya and Ruby Sahota. During a meeting with Minister Bardish Chagger, the board discussed ways to cooperate with the ministry to promote small business interests. They also spoke of a Hard Hats Tour for ICCC members to Communitech at University of Waterloo and sought the minister’s assistance in facilitating ties with Communitech.