Hamilton, Ontario – October 5, 2026 – The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is pleased to welcome McMaster University as the newest strategic partner of the OVIN Incubators. McMaster University is a recognized leader in automotive and mobility innovation, with world-class strengths in transportation electrification, connected and autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, smart mobility, logistics, and sustainable transportation systems. Through this collaboration, OVIN and McMaster University will strengthen industry-research partnerships, support the growth of high-potential Ontario-based ventures, and accelerate the commercialization of automotive and mobility technologies.
The university’s capabilities are anchored by the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC), a globally recognized hub for electric vehicle and smart mobility research, and complemented by expertise in automotive materials, energy systems, software certification, and transportation logistics. Additionally, the Hamilton region is a leader in advanced manufacturing, steel production, and chemical processing, and is an emerging hub for battery materials, energy storage innovation, and EV supply chain development, aligning closely with Ontario’s automotive and advanced manufacturing priorities. Together, these strengths position McMaster as a key partner in accelerating technology development across the automotive and mobility sector.
The partnership establishes a direct pathway for translating research into commercial impact, combining McMaster’s leading automotive and mobility expertise with OVIN’s venture creation and commercialization platform.
OVIN Incubators fosters collaboration between Ontario’s post-secondary institutions and startups and scaleups to accelerate the commercialization of made-in-Ontario intellectual property. Through its New Venture Creation program, OVIN Incubators helps transform leading academic research into high potential homegrown companies, supporting innovators as they bring next-generation mobility technologies to market, scale their businesses, and contribute to Ontario and Canada’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Launched in October 2024, OVIN Incubators has continued to expand its ecosystem through collaborations with leading industry partners, including Mercedes-Benz, Infineon Technologies, and Schaeffler. McMaster University joins the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, Western University, and the University of Windsor as a post-secondary institutional partner of the OVIN Incubators, further strengthening Ontario’s capacity to commercialize world-class automotive and mobility technologies.
Quotes
“Ontario’s competitive advantage is built on strong collaboration among industry leaders, post-secondary institutions, and entrepreneurs. McMaster University’s addition to the OVIN Incubators strengthens our ability to support innovators at every stage of the commercialization journey. By connecting world-class research with venture creation expertise, industry partnerships, and market opportunities, we are helping build the next generation of Ontario-made automotive and mobility companies while driving economic growth, competitiveness, and job creation across the province.”
– Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)
“Ontario’s post-secondary institutions are home to world-class research and intellectual property with significant commercial potential. At OCI, we help translate that potential into economic growth by connecting researchers and entrepreneurs with the industry expertise, capital and market opportunities they need to scale. Welcoming McMaster University to the OVIN Incubators network strengthens that pipeline, helping more Ontario-developed automotive and mobility technologies move from the lab to the marketplace while creating companies, jobs and long-term economic value here at home.”
– Dr. Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)
“Great research is only the starting point. Real impact comes from bringing together the talent, partners and pathways needed to move ideas into the world. Through our partnership with OVIN, we’re strengthening those connections, helping accelerate the commercialization of Ontario-made technologies and reinforcing Ontario’s and McMaster’s positions as leaders in the automotive and mobility sector.”
– Gianni Parise, Vice-President, Research, McMaster University
“McMaster has built tremendous strength in automotive and mobility research, alongside longstanding partnerships with industry. Our new partnership with OVIN gives us an opportunity to build on that foundation and accelerate the path from research and discovery to real-world application. By bringing researchers, entrepreneurs and industry together, we can help promising ideas move further and faster—and create new technologies and solutions with meaningful impact.”
– Heather Sheardown, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University
About the 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.
About McMaster University
McMaster is a research-intensive university ranked among the best in the world with a bold ambition to advance human and societal health and well-being. Among Canada’s top universities for student services, our research excellence is matched by our long history of teaching innovations and commitment to preparing students for an increasingly complex future. Our alumni continue to be among the most employable graduates globally, as they bring the McMaster vision of a brighter world to communities near and far.
Media Inquiries
Alicia Pereira, apereira@oc-innovation.ca