·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨

June 2, 2025
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO - The Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨ has launched the Lazaridis Intellectual Property (IP) Lab, offering free IP education and business strategy support to students, entrepreneurs and the wider community.

The first resource of its kind for students, faculty, entrepreneurs and business owners in Waterloo Region, Brantford and Milton, the lab will provide accessible legal information on patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets – empowering users to protect and commercialize their innovations and inventions.

The Lazaridis Intellectual Property Lab was started by Brandon Mattalo, assistant professor of strategic management at the Lazaridis School and former intellectual property litigator in Toronto. It is funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and aims to fill a gap in IP support for startup founders who might otherwise overlook the importance of IP strategy due to the high costs associated with accessing legal services.

“Kitchener-Waterloo is home to one of the highest concentrations of startups in Canada, and yet there are no legal clinics for this purpose operating in the region,” says Mattalo. “The Lazaridis IP Lab will help educate community members about common intellectual property issues and opportunities with a strategic business perspective.”

The lab stands out as one of the first in Canada to be hosted within a business school – most are affiliated with law schools – positioning it to help businesses commercialize their innovations and keep those innovations within Canada.

While the lab does not offer legal advice, it provides free legal information and non-legal business strategy insights to help protect, strengthen and commercialize ideas. The lab can also refer clients to local law firms and legal services when those services are needed or recommended. Services are available in person at the Lazaridis School and online.

The Lazaridis IP Lab will work closely with partners including the and engage with faculty members and students in the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Music to help support and protect new, innovative and creative ·ï»Ë²ÊƱƽ̨ projects.

An information session will be held on Wednesday, June 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the StartUp Lab. . Visit the Lazaridis Intellectual Property Lab website for more information.