(Stratford, ON – March 19, 2026) The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) welcomes Schaeffler, the Motion Technology Company, as the newest strategic partner on OVIN Incubators. This partnership will accelerate efforts to convene industry, researchers, start-ups, and scale-ups to help future-proof Ontario’s automotive and mobility supply chain and strengthen relationships between Canadian and German automotive and mobility technology companies.
“Ontario and Germany have long shared a commitment to excellence across the automotive industry, and today’s announcement marks another milestone in our collaborative efforts to strengthen supply chains,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through this new strategic partnership, Schaeffler Technologies and OVIN will ensure Ontario-based companies have the tools needed to accelerate research, scale innovation, and stay competitive in the international market.”
With decades of experience and a truly global reach, Schaeffler’s established presence in Ontario brings best-in-class manufacturing and research and development facilities to the partnership. The company’s locations in Stratford, Oakville, Chatham and Windsor support the automotive, industrial and aerospace sectors.
“At Schaeffler, our innovation strategy is centered around key partnerships that advance different fields of motion,” said Jeff Hemphill, CTO Americas at Schaeffler. “Joining OVIN Incubators enables us to work closely with start-ups and academia to accelerate the development of new mobility solutions such as software-defined vehicles, battery technology, humanoid robotics, and electric aviation, and bring fresh perspectives into our organization. We look forward to connecting with innovators on scaling ideas that have the potential to transform our industry.”
Since its launch, OVIN Incubators has connected Ontario-based SMEs with key players in the 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.
“With each new OVIN Incubators strategic partnership, Ontario is seizing the moment and cementing its place as a global automotive and mobility powerhouse today and into the next century,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “As the OVIN Incubators continues to grow to meet the evolving needs of the sector, Ontario SMEs can access new opportunities to bring next-generation automotive and mobility solutions to market and scale globally, while creating good paying jobs that will strengthen the province’s economy and secure the future supply chain.”
In addition to the access to top-tier research and industry-leading insights, partnering with Schaeffler also increases exposure to more potential customers for Ontario-based SMEs.
“Ontario’s strength as a global automotive hub has always come from our ability to combine world-class manufacturing with bold innovation,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation. “By welcoming Schaeffler Technologies as a strategic partner in OVIN Incubators, we are creating new opportunities for Ontario’s start-ups and scale-ups to connect directly with global industry expertise, accelerate commercialization, and integrate their technologies into international supply chains. Partnerships like this strengthen Ontario’s position as a leader in next-generation mobility innovation while helping our companies grow, scale, and compete on the world stage.”
OVIN Incubators was launched in October 2024 with the announcement of a groundbreaking partnership between OVIN Incubators and Mercedes-Benz. Infineon Technologies, the world’s leading supplier of automotive semiconductors, was welcomed as an industry partner in October 2025 and the program will continue to grow with more of the world’s leading automakers joining as industry partners.
Schaeffler Group – We pioneer motion: The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for 80 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis solutions and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable – over the entire life cycle. Schaeffler describes its comprehensive range of products and services by means of eight product families: From bearing solutions and all types of linear guidance systems through to repair and monitoring services. Schaeffler is with around 110,000 employees and more than 250 locations in 55 countries, one of the world’s largest family-owned companies and one of Germany’s most innovative companies.
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.
Media Inquiries
Cynthia Norris, cynthia.norris@schaeffler.com
Alicia Pereira, apereira@oc-innovation.ca