Toronto, ON, October 06, 2026 – As Canada and its allied partners prepare to make generational investments into national security projects, the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is expanding its R&D Partnership Fund to include a new funding stream focused on Defence, Dual-Use and Space Technologies. The expansion will help businesses to adapt and validate technologies to drive industrial development, create good-paying jobs and reinforce Ontario’s role as a trusted partner in domestic and allied defence supply chains.
“Fueled by an integrated advanced manufacturing sector and strong research and development ecosystem, Ontario stands as a trusted supply chain partner, ready to deliver on generational projects for Canada and its allies,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By expanding OVIN’s R&D Partnership Fund to focus on defence, dual-use, and space technologies, we are ensuring Ontario businesses can adapt their operations to meet growing market demand and create new, good-paying jobs for our world-class workers.”
The expansion will support Canada and Ontario’s Defence Industrial Strategies by enabling world class homegrown companies to bring their expertise to emerging defence, public safety and space-related markets.
“Ontario’s strengths in autonomy, electrification, advanced manufacturing and connected systems are the key to powering the future of defence, public safety, and space,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). “The expansion of the OVIN R&D Partnership Fund to support our companies to enter these emerging markets will unlock new commercial opportunities in strategic sectors, strengthen Ontario and Canada’s industrial base and solidify our role as a global leader in the industries that intersect manufacturing, technology and critical minerals.”
Through this new focus area, OVIN will support projects focused on the development, testing, validation and demonstration of technologies with defence, dual-use and space applications. Eligible projects may include innovations related to autonomous and uncrewed systems, drones, electrification, propulsion, sensor systems, satellite communications, space transportation, satellite-based positioning, and earth observation technologies.
“Ontario has an extraordinary base of companies and technologies with the potential to serve some of the world’s most important emerging markets,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). “Through this new OVIN funding stream, we’re helping homegrown companies adapt, validate and commercialize their technologies for defence, dual-use, public safety and space applications, creating new opportunities for growth while strengthening the domestic capabilities and supply chains that will be critical to Canada’s future.”
Ontario companies bring a unique combination of advanced manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge technology development and systems integration capabilities that position them to succeed in these emerging markets. From autonomous and connected systems to electrification, advanced sensors and next generation vehicle technologies, Ontario companies are well placed to adapt proven solutions for high-growth defence and aerospace applications while strengthening Canada’s domestic industrial capacity.
The expanded stream will be included in the next R&D Partnership Fund intake, opening on October 7, 2026.
Organizations interested in learning more about funding opportunities under the OVIN R&D Partnership Fund can visit: www.ovinhub.ca/programs/rd-partnership-fund/.
About the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is a provincial initiative led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) to drive economic development and accelerate innovation in Ontario’s automotive and mobility sector. Through funding programs, talent development, technology demonstration and regional innovation infrastructure, OVIN supports the development and commercialization of next-generation mobility technologies while strengthening Ontario’s position as a global leader in automotive and transportation innovation.