Big news rolled into Waterloo Region this month. Mercedes-Benz is partnering with the provincial government and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to launch new incubators in Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto and Windsor, highlighting Waterloo's reputation as a leader in automotive innovation and reinforcing its potential for further growth.

The collaboration will help accelerate startup creation and automotive innovation, focusing on software, AI and electric vehicle components, while tapping into the region’s rich tech talent and research capabilities.

What’s happening in Waterloo Region?

According to Waterloo EDC, several factors contribute to Waterloo’s attractiveness as a hub for automotive innovation.

  • Strong research foundation: The University of Waterloo boasts the largest university-based automotive research centre in Canada, the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR). WatCAR facilitates collaboration between industry and over 125 researchers, fostering innovation in automotive and transportation systems.
  • A flourishing ecosystem: Waterloo is home to Canada's #1 tech talent market, with a concentration of innovative startups and a high rate of patent filings (15 per 10,000 people), providing space for fresh ideas and solutions.
  • Industry leaders: Canada's largest automotive manufacturer, Toyota, has significant manufacturing facilities in Waterloo Region, including locations in Cambridge and Woodstock. This proximity to industry giants allows for valuable partnerships and knowledge transfer.

OVIN and Communitech: Partners in progress

The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is a government-led initiative that supports automotive and mobility innovation in Ontario. It offers resources like funding, talent development and technology acceleration to help companies grow and succeed, positioning Ontario as a global leader in the field. 

OVIN at Communitech, as the Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) for Waterloo Region, has played a pivotal role in supporting Canadian founders for over seven years.

Communitech, along with its partners, created OpenHDMaps, a platform that supports high-definition mapping for autonomous vehicles and Smart Cities. Long-time partner Ecopia developed proprietary IP that has fueled its growth and strengthened its position in the mapping industry.

Building on this momentum, the OVIN-inspired Communitech Fast Track Cities program connects municipalities with industry leaders and startups to tackle challenges affecting mobility networks. The latest cycle focuses on "autonomous technology solutions" with $100,000 in pilot project funding for top ideas. Partnering with the City of Kitchener and the Municipal Innovation Council of Bruce County, Communitech has helped identify and support promising startups for the program.

The Communitech Data Wrangling Service connects founders with partners who can assign expert resources to complete projects that leverage well-organized and relevant data to fuel their AI and machine-learning innovations. This public-private model utilizes OVIN funding along with contributions from partners, offering startups significant discounts on project costs.

Making a difference

Several startups have achieved significant success with the support of Communitech and OVIN, demonstrating the effectiveness of this ecosystem. 

Scooty Mobility, a micro-mobility company, participated in the previous iteration of Fast Track Cities (then known as Future of Cities) and connected with the City of Brampton. This partnership led to a successful pilot project, and Scooty Mobility is now expanding its operations to other municipalities. The company is also part of the inaugural cohort of the OVIN Demonstration Zone led by the City of Markham and City of Vaughan.

RideShark, a MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) platform provider, collaborated with researchers at Carleton University to develop a new module for their platform. The company partnered with the County of Renfrew, supported by OVIN, to deploy a rideshare system for the community. RideShark is currently leveraging the Communitech Data Wrangling Service to collaborate with a partner on an analytics project and has previously won $25,000 in prize money at the Communitech Fast Track Cities Showcase.

Loop Parking Technology, a local startup, secured discussions with municipalities like Brampton, Vaughan and Markham through Fast Track Cities. The company is also collaborating with universities on research and development for an autonomous parking enforcement robot.

A bright future

With the support of Communitech, OVIN, and local partners, Waterloo Region is set to lead the way in sustainable and autonomous transportation, driving innovation and growth in the mobility sector.