Ontario investments in Regional Technology and Development Sites across the province

This media release was originally published by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) on December 13, 2022.

Seven regional sites harness the automotive, manufacturing and mobility strengths, expertise and opportunities Ontario has to offer

TORONTO, December 13 – Today the Government of Ontario announced an investment of $19 million through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) toward the province’s seven Regional Technology and Development Sites (RTDS). This investment brings the government’s overall commitment to approximately $46.5 million, which will help Ontario lead the next generation of vehicle development and manufacturing of zero-emission, electric vehicles (EV).

“Investing in Ontario’s manufacturing and innovation ecosystem is another way our government is ensuring Ontario remains a global leader in innovation,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “This investment in the Regional Technology and Development sites will help to ensure that innovators, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises across the province have the support they need to bring Ontario-made EV and connected and autonomous vehicle solutions to the world. The cars of the future will be built in Ontario by Ontario workers.”

There are seven RTDS’ across Ontario, part of a flagship program to drive innovation and investment across Ontario’s electric, connected and autonomous vehicle sector. An overall $56.4 million investment in OVIN is part of Driving Prosperity ― The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector, the government’s 10-year plan to drive deals and secure production mandates for hybrid and electric vehicles, create a domestic battery ecosystem, and strengthen Ontario’s position as a North American automotive and EV innovation hub.

“The Ontario Centre of Innovation is grateful for the Ontario government’s continued support of the province’s innovators and entrepreneurs. Funding to these Regional Technology Development Sites across the province will result in reaching more companies and supporting Ontario’s position as a leader in the automotive and mobility sectors,” said Claudia Krywiak, President, and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI).

Over the last two years, Ontario has attracted $16 billion in transformative automotive investments by global automakers and suppliers of electric vehicle batteries and battery materials. This includes more than $12.5 billion in electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery-related manufacturing investments. These include significant and historic investments by Honda, Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, General Motors, and Ford that will generate and secure thousands of local jobs for the province’s highly talented automotive workforce.

“Ontario has emerged as a global leader in the automotive and mobility sector as it transforms towards electric, connected, and autonomous vehicles,” said Raed Kadri, Vice-President Strategic Initiatives and Head of Ontario Vehicle. “Through the OVIN Regional Technology Development Sites, we are harnessing the strengths of our entire province, from the critical mineral wealth of Northern Ontario and to the manufacturing strength of Southern Ontario, and everywhere in between – cementing Ontario’s role as the global hub for the vehicles of the future.”

About the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
OVIN is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in advanced automotive technology and smart mobility solutions such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies. Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies.

For more information
416-888-4088
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QUOTES FROM RTDS

“Hardware and semiconductor products and technologies are critical technological infrastructure for smart and connected transportation. As Canada’s Hardware Hub, we are excited to be a partner in the Toronto Regional Technology Development Site to accelerate the scale up of companies creating solutions for the automotive sector and future of mobility, create new jobs in Ontario, and create new made-in-Ontario technologies, innovations and IP.”
— Melissa Chee, President and CEO, ventureLAB

““As a result of the OVIN program and the strong partnership between Communitech and the University of Waterloo, founders in our networks have the valuable support needed to build autonomous, electric and connected vehicle products that align to our organization’s steadfast commitment to Tech For Good.” -Chris Albinson, Presidents and CEO, Communitech

“With this significant funding, the Durham Regional Technology Development Site (Durham RTDS) continues to be a world-class ecosystem for local and international startups and SMEs with innovation in electric and connected mobility, transportation and smart community solutions to launch and test their products and services in a real-world environment. Durham Region has a strong history of being a forward-thinking municipality that supports innovative solutions to enhance the lives of our people, and this investment will further our mission to accelerate innovation for the communities of tomorrow.”
— Sherry Colbourne, President & CEO of Spark Centre, a core partner of Durham RTDS

“We are grateful for the renewed support from the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Centre of Innovation to deliver another vital program that will build on the many great things happening in the Windsor-Essex Automobility ecosystem. The OVIN program will continue to support Ontario-based SMEs and allow our team to identify and build on the many innovations already taking place here in Windsor-Essex involving the next generation of vehicles.”
— Stephen MacKenzie, President and CEO, Invest WindsorEssex

“Innovation Factory’s Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility (CITM) is pleased to continue our partnership as Hamilton’s regional technology development site under the Province of Ontario’s OVIN program. Backed by the accelerator resources and services of Innovation Factory, CITM continues to offer innovators free access to a 5G, IoT and V2X test network as well as the Smart Transportation DataStor to help drive the development of smart, connected transportation and electrified vehicle component solutions.”
— David Carter, Executive Director for Innovation Factory

“As Canada’s all-weather R&D complex for next-generation smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity technologies, we are honoured to serve as an RTDS within the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network. Leveraging contributions from fellow public and private collaborators, this critical provincial investment will enable and accelerate the commercialization, testing, demonstration, and adoption of game-changing smart mobility technologies. We are excited to help more Ottawa and Ontario innovators and SMEs bring their solutions to market faster, fueling new jobs and global revenues that build our provincial economy.”
— Michael Tremblay, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa, founder and operator of Area X.O

“Core5, also known as the Northern Ontario Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS), will connect Ontario’s manufacturing might with Northern Ontario’s mining and mineral expertise, talent and leadership, and will provide the area’s mineral producers, local SMEs and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers throughout Canada with the support they need to help build the next generation of low-carbon, autonomous, electric and connected vehicles through innovative methods of critical mineral extraction. We are excited to work with our partners in industry and academia to set the pace for EV technology adoption in the global mining industry.”
— Brendan Skiffington, RIC Coordinator, NORCAT