Bank of Speakers The Bank of Speakers is a collaborative effort of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC). Our partner, IPIC, is the association of professionals concerned with patents, trade-marks, copyrights and industrial designs. Both organizations have joined forces to deliver educational intellectual property (IP) awareness sessions.

What are the advantages of using the Bank of Speakers?
The Bank of Speakers provides access to more than 200 IP professionals committed to assume a leadership role to emphasize the strategic value and importance of IP, and who are ready to deliver an informative and engaging presentation.

When used strategically, IP assets can increase the competitiveness of a business and can result in countless benefits. But, before this can be accomplished, businesses must first acknowledge the value of IP, understand its many forms and interrelations, and see how it applies to their situation. In an increasingly competitive global economy, it is essential to develop strategies to stand out from the competition.

More precisely, to whom is this initiative targeted?
This initiative is targeted to public and private sector organizations, including business service centres, professional associations, colleges, universities and libraries, who would like to organize workshops to raise awareness of the importance and strategic value of IP.

What are the topics covered?
This initiative is aimed at raising awareness of IP by introducing basic concepts such as:

• the importance and strategic use of IP;
• an introduction to trade secrets, patents, trade-marks, copyrights and industrial designs;
• useful resources and tips;
• links to IP publications and online tools; and
• contact information.

How can I request a speaker?
If you would like to organize an intellectual property awareness session for your staff or clients, simply complete the Request a Speaker form. The Bank of Speakers Coordinator will then contact you to discuss arrangements for this event.

For other types of requests, who should I contact?
CIPO's Contact Us section will provide you with the best methods to channel other requests.