(Toronto, ON – May 19, 2026) The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is pleased to welcome the University of Toronto as the newest strategic partner in the OVIN Incubators initiative. This partnership will strengthen the relationship between researchers, innovators and industry, accelerating the commercialization of vital automotive and mobility solutions and driving innovation from research to market.
As a globally recognized research institution and Canada’s largest university, the University of Toronto has comprehensive expertise across a wide range of engineering and technology focus areas, guided by its world-renowned Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Its multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to research continues to drive innovation.
“Here in the heart of the GTA, we’re very blessed to have such a rich network of small, medium-sized and large players, including U of T spin-off companies, in Ontario’s vibrant automotive sector, right here in our backyard,” said Chris Yip, Dean of U of T Engineering. “This new framework agreement with OVIN will further strengthen our connections with that network and create new pathways to translate inventions from the lab to the marketplace. We’re very excited to see it flourish over the years to come.”
This strategic partnership brings together the University of Toronto’s research excellence, with OVIN’s extensive automotive and mobility network to accelerate both the conversion of research into market-ready technologies, but also the creation of new, Ontario-based ventures.
“Ontario is creating the framework for continued automotive excellence, seizing the opportunity to create the jobs and solutions needed for today and the future,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “As OVIN Incubators continues to expand and partner with the province’s leading post-secondary institutions, Ontario’s research excellence will power sustained economic growth and job creation, by harnessing Ontario-made IP and Ontario-based talent to build the companies of the future.”
To facilitate this, OVIN Incubators is launching a dedicated program to support New Venture Creation. This program supports the establishment of promising new ventures that are spun out from leading Ontario academic research, providing a foundation for these companies to scale, generate economic growth, and protect Ontario-made intellectual property.
Since its inception, OVIN Incubators has connected Ontario-based SMEs with industry leaders in the global automotive and mobility ecosystem. By tapping into Ontario’s deep industry knowledge and research leadership, the program helps start-ups and scale-ups move efficiently from research to market.
“Ontario has the talent, research excellence, and industrial strength to lead the future of automotive and mobility innovation,” said Claudia Krywiak. “Welcoming the University of Toronto as the first post-secondary strategic partner in OVIN Incubators strengthens the connection between research, industry, and entrepreneurship , accelerating the commercialization of made-in-Ontario technologies and helping build globally competitive companies rooted in Ontario-made intellectual property and talent.”
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 most recently Schaeffler, the Motion Technology Company, was welcomed as an industry partner in March 2026.
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.
The University of Toronto
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto has a long history of challenging the impossible and transforming society through the ingenuity and determination of our faculty, students, alumni, staff and supporters. Our community is a catalyst for discovery, innovation and progress, creating knowledge and solutions that make a tangible difference around the globe. Together, we continue to defy gravity by taking on what might seem unattainable today and generating the ideas and talent needed to build a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future.
Media Inquiries Alicia Pereira, apereira@oc-innovation.ca