(Windsor, ON – June 24, 2026) The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is pleased to welcome the University of Windsor as the newest strategic partner in the OVIN Incubators initiative. This partnership will support the development and commercialization of emerging automotive and mobility solutions and is designed to ensure leading academic research moves efficiently from lab to market.
“The University of Windsor sits at the heart of one of North America’s most important automotive regions and has a proven track record of turning research excellence into real-world impact,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). “By joining the OVIN Incubators initiative, the University will help strengthen Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, accelerate the commercialization of next-generation mobility technologies, and support the growth of globally competitive companies that will shape the future of transportation.”
Strategically situated in the heart of Canada’s automotive manufacturing industry, the University of Windsor’s interdisciplinary research strengths in applied automotive and mobility research, strong industry relationships, and a demonstrated history of commercialization success will help drive the creation of innovative new technologies, and new Ontario-based ventures.
“The University of Windsor has built its reputation on research that doesn’t stop at the lab door,” said Dr. Shanthi Johnson, vice-president research and innovation at the University of Windsor. “We pursue discovery with an eye toward real-world application and economic impact, and joining the OVIN Incubators initiative is a natural extension of that commitment. This partnership positions our researchers and our region at the centre of Ontario’s automotive and mobility future, accelerating the path from breakthrough to market and ensuring the innovations developed here create lasting opportunity for Windsor-Essex and beyond.”
Since its founding, OVIN Incubators has strengthened the connections between Ontario’s post-secondary institutions and Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the goal of converting Ontario-made intellectual property into successful homegrown ventures.
“Ontario’s continued automotive and mobility leadership is driving sustainable economic growth and OVIN’s partnership with the University of Windsor will continue to drive growth while creating opportunities to convert leading research into scalable technology solutions,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN at OCI. “Ontario-based talent continues to drive the creation of technologies and mobility solutions the world needs right now and for years to come.”
OVIN Incubators was launched in October 2024 with the announcement of a groundbreaking partnership between OVIN and Mercedes-Benz. Infineon Technologies, the world’s leading supplier of automotive semiconductors, was welcomed as an industry partner in October 2025 and Schaeffler, the Motion Technology Company, was welcomed as an industry partner in March 2026. The University of Windsor joins the University of Toronto as OVIN Incubators post-secondary institutional partners.
Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (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: https://www.ovinhub.ca.
With a rich history dating back to 1857, the University of Windsor is a comprehensive, student-focused institution with more than 14,000 students enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Human Kinetics, Law, Nursing, Odette School of Business and Science. UWindsor’s mission is to empower positive change through regionally and globally engaged inquiry, learning, scholarship, creative activity and advance bold and impactful research.
Visit uwindsor.ca to learn more.
Media Inquiries
Alicia Pereira, apereira@oc-innovation.ca
Dylan Kristy, dkristy@uwindsor.ca