Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) has announced the appointment of Roula Thomas – who has more than 25 years of experience as a registered Canadian and US patent agent – as its new vice president, intellectual property, as of this month.
Thomas will reach out to IPON’s clients and partners and stakeholders across Ontario to work on planning the next phase of the provincial agency’s mandate in the first weeks following her appointment, according to a news release from IPON.
“I’m excited to join IPON at such a pivotal time,” Thomas said in the news release. “Ontario is a leader within Canada’s innovation ecosystem and IPON is well positioned to lead in strengthening our innovative economy.”
“Roula’s proven expertise, leadership and collaborative approach make her an ideal choice to lead IPON as its VP, IP,” said Karima Bawa, chair of IPON’s board of directors, in the news release. “She is a recognized leader and a true bridge-builder in the Canadian innovation ecosystem.”
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According to IPON’s news release, Thomas worked extensively in the areas of biotechnology and life sciences at multinational law firms. She assisted these firms with IP portfolios for the federal government, research and development organizations, and academic institutions.
She most recently headed the in-house IP team of the National Research Council Canada (NRC) and its IP portfolio, which spanned 13 research centres. She also worked as director of the NRC’s IP Assist program beginning in February 2022. In that role, she helped establish a national platform for high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access IP services.
Thomas also acted as an intellectual property advisor for the NRC in Ottawa beginning in May 2016. According to her LinkedIn page, she earned her MSc degree in biochemistry from the University of Ottawa.
“IPON has already made significant progress in helping Ontario innovators protect and leverage their IP, and I’m eager to help build on that momentum,” Thomas said in IPON’s news release.
IPON offers IP support and services seeking to help the province grow economically and guide researchers and businesses as they work to innovate, expand, and compete in the market. The agency aims to assist innovators and postsecondary institutions with improving their understanding of how to protect and maximize their IP’s value.
IPON shared that it invested more than $17 million in direct SME funding and more than $9.5 million in the enhancement of IP capacity at the province’s colleges and universities in its second year of operations. IPON added that, thus far, it has assisted in protecting over 1,700 IP assets made in Ontario.