OVIN Demonstration Zone Showcases Ontario-Made Innovations in Markham and Vaughan

MARKHAM, ON – September 16, 2024 – The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Demonstration Zone, led by the City of Markham and City of Vaughan, is proud to announce an inaugural cohort of 15 demonstrations that will showcase groundbreaking automotive and mobility technologies.

“As we launch these groundbreaking demonstrations in Markham, we are excited to see the incredible potential of smart mobility technologies in action,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “ By leveraging the expertise of industry leaders and the innovative spirit of our community, we are reaffirming our commitment to drive meaningful change and build a transportation network for the 21st century.”   

“As the global automotive and mobility sector continues to evolve, Ontario’s world-class tech ecosystem is responding with Ontario-made, innovative solutions that will help to build the cars of the future,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “The hard work demonstrated through the inaugural cohort of OVIN Demonstration Zone projects in Vaughan showcase the best of our highly talented workforce, and will continue to promote the city and Ontario as a premier destination for businesses to invest, grow and thrive.”
 

 Among over 40 submissions received through the Open Call Stream for innovative automotive and smart mobility solutions and the Challenge Area Stream, with solutions tailored to the specific needs of Markham and Vaughan, the following have been selected to demonstrate their technologies within the OVIN Demonstration Zone:

• Shared, Micro and Accessible Mobility Solutions: Scooty Mobility Inc, RideAlike Inc, Hopin Technologies Inc, Tappy Technology LLC are testing innovative approaches to multi-modal mobility to promote efficiency, affordability, and sustainability.

• Maintenance & Delivery Robots: Kevares Autonomous Services and Real Life Robotics are leveraging smart sensor technologies and Artificial Intelligence to improve anomaly identification for sidewalk and cycle lane maintenance and showcasing ground robots, equipped with GPS and AI-supported machine learning for navigation and payment capabilities, to enable autonomous last-mile deliveries of goods and services.

• Traffic Safety Solutions: Msafe Solutions Inc and NoTraffic Inc are enhancing safety on roadways by utilizing innovative data collection, analyzing traffic flow and enhancing safety, laying the foundation for a smarter, more connected city.

• Sustainable Charging Solutions: REPWR & Kiwi Charge are showcasing cutting-edge portable charging solutions to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transportation and energy use.

• Smart Traffic and Parking Solutions: Municipal Parking Services Inc and Loop Parking Technologies Inc are showcasing advanced technologies with camera vision, real-time analytics, and AI to optimize parking enforcements, reduce congestion, and gather data on traffic and parking behaviour.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is embracing innovation to get the most out of our transportation network as we continue to build our province for the future,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario Minister of Transportation. “With our support, the OVIN Demonstration Zone will showcase technologies that have the power to transform the way Ontarians travel by increasing the movement of goods, lowering emissions and improving road safety.”

Demonstrations are set to take place within designated areas in Markham (along Enterprise Boulevard between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Round) and throughout Vaughan, providing an environment for demonstrating technologies.

The OVIN Demonstration Zone was launched last summer, fueled by a $2.5 million investment from the Ontario government. Through this platform, companies are leveraging the cities’ infrastructure to demonstrate and showcase innovations in real-world settings, driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of transformative automotive and smart mobility technologies. In support of these activities, the OVIN Demonstration Zone also provides access to city assets, municipal support, and feedback from city stakeholders and end-users, allowing companies to validate and further refine their solutions, and strengthen collaboration with the cities and industry to address mobility challenges.

Businesses with innovative mobility and transportation solutions are encouraged to apply for the next call for applications available at ovindz.ca.

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.

 

“The City of Vaughan is pleased to partner with the City of Markham to bring the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network Demonstration Zone to life. The inaugural cohort of 15 demonstrations will showcase the future of transportation, providing an exciting opportunity for companies to safely test their automotive and smart mobility solutions in the real world. I want to thank Premier Ford, Minister Fedeli and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network for seeing the potential in this program and our partners at the City of Markham. Vaughan’s automotive sector is thriving, and I cannot wait to see what will arise from this new initiative.”

— Mayor Steven Del Duca, City of Vaughan

 

“As the global automotive and mobility sector continues to evolve rapidly, Ontario is leading the charge in bringing new innovations one step closer to market and on the roads.  The technologies showcased through OVIN Demonstration Zone in Markham and Vaughan serve as a lighthouse that signal Ontario’s unmatched ability to catalyze the adoption and deployment of transformative technologies. Through OVIN, the Ontario government is empowering innovators to succeed in domestic and global markets, and drive economic growth.”

— Raed Kadri, Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network