The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), announced an investment of $17.5 million to establish nine Regional Technology Development Sites (RTDS), with $32.8 million in matching industry investment and over $19.3 million from the broader public sector, for a total of over $69.6 million. Leveraging Ontario’s regional strengths and expertise in automotive manufacturing, technology, and critical minerals, the RTDS provides a network for Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to drive the development, testing, and commercialization of automotive and smart mobility solutions across the province.

“Through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, our government is proud to support the establishment of nine Regional Technology Development Sites that will provide Ontario SMEs with the tools, infrastructure and expertise they need to commercialize made-in-Ontario solutions faster,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By fostering the conditions for industry, municipalities and academia to collaborate, we will continue to position Ontario at the forefront of automotive and mobility innovation and fuel opportunities for economic growth and investment.”

The nine RTDS locations in Durham, Hamilton, Kingston, Northern Ontario, Ottawa, Simcoe, Waterloo, Windsor-Essex and York, are physical sites that connect post-secondary institutions, regional innovation centres, incubators and accelerators, industry partners, and municipal and regional resources to collaborate and accelerate made-in-Ontario solutions through homegrown companies.

“As a global leader in the automotive and mobility sector, Ontario is driving the transformation towards a connected, electric future,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “The OVIN Regional Technology Sites provide Ontario-based SMEs access to an extensive network of support and expertise and reduce barriers for start-ups and companies to create homegrown solutions to meet not only Ontario’s needs, but those of customers all across the globe, to drive our economy forward.”

The RTDS provides SMEs with access to state-of-the-art equipment, hardware, and software, such as the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel in Oshawa; the Impact Chemistry Advanced Laboratories in Kingston; and NORCAT Underground R&D Mine in Sudbury, while also offering business and technical advisory services to expedite the commercialization of technologies developed at regional sites.

“Through OVIN, Ontario is creating a province-wide network that turns regional innovation into real economic impact,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation. “By establishing nine Regional Technology Development Sites, we’re giving SMEs access to world-class infrastructure and expertise that helps them commercialize faster, strengthen supply chains, and compete globally. This investment ensures that made-in-Ontario mobility solutions drive jobs, growth, and long-term competitiveness across the province.”

The nine sites offer opportunities for regional testing and prototyping of technologies and solutions, connecting companies with regional partners to create a pathway for the adoption and deployment of made-in-Ontario technologies to bolster supply chains.

“OVIN’s investment in the Windsor-Essex RTDS recognizes the region’s unique role at the intersection of mobility, manufacturing, and cross-border trade,” said Yvonne Pilon, President & CEO of WEtech Alliance, the Windsor-Essex RTDS lead. “Backed by WEtech Alliance’s accelerator resources, programming, industry connections, and 15 years of experience supporting Ontario startups and industry partners, the WE RTDS supports companies at every stage, from building and validating prototypes to forming strategic industry partnerships and prospecting in new markets. Together with OVIN, we are enabling Windsor-Essex to continue its legacy of automotive and mobility innovation while supporting the next generation of technologies shaping Ontario’s mobility future.”