On October 6, 2026, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) published the IP Canada Report 2026 (the Report), the 11th edition of its annual publication on intellectual property (IP) trends and research in patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and plant breeders’ rights within Canada and abroad by Canadians.
The Report provides an overview of Canada’s IP landscape, highlighting IP filing activity in Canada, the use of IP rights, and the role of innovation in the Canadian economy. It identifies a rebound in IP filing activity in Canada in 2025. Specifically, CIPO received 36,047 patent applications in 2025, representing a 2% increase from 2024. Notably, applications from Canadian residents increased by 26%, while non-resident activity declined slightly.
Trademark activity also grew, with applications rising by 9% to 74,793 in 2025. This increase was driven primarily by a 21% rise in applications from Canadian residents. Industrial design filings reached a record high of 10,670 in 2025, an increase of 16% from the previous year. Applications for plant breeders’ rights increased by 7% to 363 in 2025, a partial recovery from a decline recorded in 2024.
Canadian applicants also continued to pursue IP protection internationally. In 2024, Canadians filed 19,878 patent applications abroad, an increase of 1% from 2023, and more than 21,800 trademark applications abroad, an increase of 4% from 2023. International industrial design filings rose by 27% in 2024 to a record high filing of 4,294 designs.
Beyond filing statistics, the Report also examines Canada’s first five years as a member of the Madrid Protocol, finding it among the leading global destinations for international trademark filings through the Madrid system. It also considers productivity among firms patenting Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, noting that patenting in 4IR technologies is associated with stronger economic outcomes.
For more information, please see the Report here.
Summary By: Victoria Di Felice
E-TIPS® ISSUE
Disclaimer: This Newsletter is intended to provide readers with general information on legal developments in the areas of e-commerce, information technology and intellectual property. It is not intended to be a complete statement of the law, nor is it intended to provide legal advice. No person should act or rely upon the information contained in this newsletter without seeking legal advice.
E-TIPS is a registered trade-mark of Deeth Williams Wall LLP.
