MARKHAM, ON – July 25, 2023 – The Province of Ontario has awarded the cities of Markham and Vaughan $2.5 million in funding to develop two automotive technology and smart mobility Demonstration Zones that will provide opportunities for companies to test, pilot and showcase their products in a real-world environment.
The funding is part of the Province’s $56.4 million commitment, over four years, to support the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). OVIN focuses on maximizing investments and impact across Ontario’s entire automotive value chain, including a shift towards smart and clean technologies.
In Markham, technology demonstrations will be conducted in Markham Centre, the City’s emerging downtown, home to York University’s new campus, with a focus on sustainability and technology. Markham’s Demonstration Zone will support automotive and mobility technology demonstrations, providing an opportunity for companies to respond to ongoing calls for applications with innovative solutions.
"The Auto Mobility Demonstration Zone aligns with our vision to transform Markham into a frictionless city and to develop a living-lab for rapid prototyping new initiatives,” says Markham Mayor, Frank Scarpitti. “Markham is already leading the way in automotive innovation and the addition of the Demonstration Zone furthers our commitment to advance the future of sustainable mobility technologies.”
The planned Demonstration Zone will be a living-lab, promoting collaboration to advance automotive, mobility and smart city solutions that can improve the quality of life of local residents, while generating new economic opportunities for Markham, Vaughan and Ontario.
“With a world-class workforce, state-of-the-art research and development facilities, and an abundance of critical minerals, Ontario has secured its position as a global leader in the auto sector,” says Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We’re building on that momentum with the new OVIN Demonstration Zone and ensuring that our innovators and entrepreneurs have the tools needed to bring made-in-Ontario automotive and mobility solutions to the world. The vehicles of the future will be built in Ontario, by Ontario workers.”
A range of solutions can be piloted in the Demonstration Zones, including connected, autonomous and smart mobility technologies.
Learn more about the Demonstration Zones: MarkhamBusiness.ca/Mobility.
