Powering up our local economy: Inside UVic’s IP Clinic
At the Gustavson School of Business, innovation is more than just a buzzword—it’s a way of thinking, creating and collaborating that shapes the entire community. For Lindsay Veenstra, a law co-op student working at UVic’s Intellectual Property (IP) Clinic, this became crystal clear as she connected with Gustavson’s aspiring entrepreneurs during her term.
UVic launched its first-ever Intellectual Property (IP) Clinic in the summer 2024 term, a collaboration between the Gustavson School of Business and the UVic Innovation Centre. The clinic empowers students from all corners of campus to protect their ideas and turn them into reality, adding a new dimension to our community’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, which includes on-campus resources like PitchIt, PlanIt and personalized mentorship programs.
Lindsay Veenstra, a second-year UVic law co-op student, helped launch the clinic this summer. She underwent training and mentorship from the Innovation centre, a Vancouver-based IP lawyer and UVic’s Research Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization Office for the role. This support gave her the foundation to assist students in navigating the complexities of IP, making the clinic an essential resource for budding entrepreneurs.
Inspired by creativity at Gustavson
During her time at the clinic, Veenstra saw firsthand how creativity fuels innovation, particularly among Gustavson students. Reflecting on her experiences, she shared, “One of the highlights of this role has been hearing students share their projects and ventures. I’ve been amazed by how people have been able to connect their passions, hobbies, coursework and life experiences to create something new or fill a gap in the world.”
For Veenstra, this creativity isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential to navigating the tricky world of intellectual property. “Creativity and dedication are so important in business and when working with IP,” she says. “Legal protections are just one way to support your business; really making the most of your IP takes creativity and there are lots of ways to do that effectively.”
This kind of creative thinking is exactly what Gustavson encourages, helping students carve out their own unique paths. Staffed by co-op students like Veenstra, the clinic provides valuable services, from educational content on IP rights to free consultations—especially for 4th-year entrepreneurship students who are inspired to launch their own businesses.
While Veenstra can’t share specific examples due to client confidentiality, her experience highlights how important programs like the IP Clinic are in helping students chase their entrepreneurial dreams.
Strengthening Canada’s innovation ecosystem
UVic was one of six universities selected to launch an in-house IP Clinic this summer as part of a national grant program. This initiative provides free or low-cost access to basic IP advisory services while fostering the next generation of IP experts.
As the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, emphasized in the : “Building IP awareness and providing Canadians with the right resources to protect and grow their own IP is essential to building an innovative Canada. With this funding, we are empowering the next generations of creators, entrepreneurs and innovators, and helping to support new ideas, honour Indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, and build an IP system that works for everyone.”
These words resonate deeply with Gustavson’s aspiration to develop responsible leaders for a better world, champion research that makes a difference and cultivate partnerships for positive impact.
“Entrepreneurship has been at the core of Gustavson since the beginning. The IP Clinic gives our students the chance to take their ventures to the next level—making them better protected, more innovative and more resilient. We are grateful for the support from this federal grant and the opportunities it opens up for our students.”
Whether students are specializing in entrepreneurship or just beginning to explore business, the Gustavson community—and unique programs like the IP Clinic— are there to help them carve out their own path and protect their ideas along the way.
Ready to protect your next big idea?
The in-person IP Clinic is closed during the fall 2024 term, but you can reach out to book an appointment by emailing ipclinic@uvic.ca.
Explore other IP-related resources at UVic:
- Innovation Centre: A venture incubator providing support to entrepreneurs from ideation to investment.
- Research Partnerships: Helping bring inventions and other IP created by the UVic community to life.
- : Open during the school year to provide personalized legal research on business law issues, including IP matters.
- UVic Libraries Copyright Office: Handling copyright issues in academic contexts, along with a .