Four smart mobility businesses take part in OVIN Demonstration Zone in Vaughan

The City of Vaughan is pleased to welcome four businesses to the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Demonstration Zone, which provides entrepreneurs, innovators and visionaries with an opportunity to safely test their automotive and smart mobility solutions in real-world environments.

These four Ontario-based companies were selected to participate in the second program cohort from more than 20 submissions received through the Open Call Stream. The companies will demonstrate their innovative mobility solutions, which address transportation challenges and improve the safe and effective movement of people and goods in Vaughan. The planned demonstrations include:

Smart traffic and planning innovations 

• AI infrastructure inventory and planning by GeoMate Inc. 

  This demonstration will aim to showcase how AI-driven tools can improve inventory maintenance and improve the City’s infrastructure planning processes by providing data insights into potential gaps in active transportation networks.

• Real-time incidents intelligent transportation system by AirMatrix Inc.

  The demonstration will aim to showcase how AI-driven data analysis can improve road safety and congestion through impact assessments on traffic events and evaluate its live incident reporting for collision and disruptions. 

Augmented reality innovations 

• Real-time fire and victim detection by Longan Vision Corp.  

  The demonstration will validate the use of thermal imaging and an augmented reality headset to enhance visibility and decision-making to help firefighters respond faster in emergencies.

Quantum computing innovations 

• AI-powered fleet management by BluWave-ai 

  The demonstration will aim to improve response times for snow maintenance and salting routes using AI-powered modelling.

For full demonstration project details, visit ovindz.ca/Vaughan-Demos.

Apply for the next round

Businesses with innovative mobility and transportation solutions are encouraged to apply for the third intake round of the program through the Challenge Area Stream until Tuesday, April 8. This round of intake focuses on three specific challenge areas in collaboration with various City departments:

• Challenge 1: Automated Road Asset Maintenance – with Transportation and Fleet Management Services
• Challenge 2: Parking Solutions for Shared Micromobility – with Infrastructure Planning and Corporate Asset Management
• Challenge 3: Emergency Response and Management – with Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service

The City invites companies with technologies that solve the identified challenges to apply at ovindz.ca/apply.

The OVIN Demonstration Zone offers startups, scaleups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) an opportunity to showcase their solution within sites across Vaughan and Markham – and leverage the support of key industry partners. Startups, scaleups and SMEs that may not have the resources to do so on their own will benefit from the opportunity to demonstrate and promote their technologies to potential customers and industry partners. 

About OVIN

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 support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical support and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies and is driving Ontario forward as a globally leading automotive and mobility jurisdiction. 

The OVIN Demonstration Zone supports the advancement of technology to improve the way we move people and goods, all while generating new economic opportunities in Ontario. The call for applications is fueled by $2.5 million in funding from the Government of Ontario through OVIN awarded to the cities of Vaughan and Markham to develop automotive and mobility demonstration zones. The funding came as part of the Ontario government’s $56.4-million commitment over three years to support OVIN.

More information on the OVIN Demonstration Zone, including application guidelines, can be found at ovindz.ca.

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