OVIN Demonstration Zone Unveils New Urban Mobility Technologies in Markham and Vaughan

MARKHAM, ON – May 28, 2025 – The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Demonstration Zone, led by the City of Markham and City of Vaughan, is pleased to announce the selection of six innovative companies for its second intake. Building on the success of the first round of demonstrations, these companies will have the opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking automotive and mobility technologies in real-world urban settings across both cities. 

“As the automotive and mobility sectors continue to evolve, it is essential that Ontario’s innovators and entrepreneurs are equipped with the tools and resources needed to ensure their success,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, our government is proud to support this next cohort of companies as they pilot Ontario-made solutions that enhance urban mobility, improve public safety, and strengthen our province’s leadership in the automotive sector through practical application and demonstration. We congratulate the six selected companies and look forward to seeing their innovations and solutions firsthand during in the upcoming showcase.”

Following submissions through the Open Call Stream, the OVIN Demonstration Zone selected six companies that align with Ontario’s vision for smart, sustainable, and efficient urban mobility. The selected demonstrations span a wide range of technological advancements, including augmented reality, automated enforcement, LiDAR-based mapping, and quantum computing. The projects are tailored to address the unique transportation and infrastructure priorities of the cities of Markham and Vaughan, advancing innovation in the automotive and mobility sector.

Selected Companies - Intake 2:

• Smart Road Safety and Traffic Intelligence: Acceo Solutions Inc. and AirMatrix Inc. are improving urban mobility through AI-powered traffic detection and real-time data intelligence. Acceo is piloting automated License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology to improve road safety and compliance, while AirMatrix is deploying multi-sensor hardware and analytics to support live incident reporting and traffic engineering across complex operational environments.
• Data-Driven Infrastructure and Urban Planning: GeoMate Inc. and NavMobility Inc., are utilizing geospatial technologies to improve urban planning and infrastructure management. Both companies are applying solutions including aerial and mobile LiDAR mapping to identify gaps in urban transportation networks.
• Emergency Response and Augmented Reality: Longan Vision Corp. is equipping first responders with augmented reality headsets to enhance situational awareness, communication, and navigation in low-visibility environments. Their demonstration enables firefighters to locate victims and identify hazards in real time.
• Winter Operations & Fleet Management: BluWave-ai is using AI-powered optimization and quantum computing to improve winter road maintenance. Their project aims to optimize snow plowing and salting operations, increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

Demonstrations will take place within designated areas in Markham (along Enterprise Boulevard between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Road) and throughout Vaughan, with support from municipal partners and industry stakeholders. These initiatives reinforce Ontario’s commitment to fostering economic growth through technological advancement in smart mobility.

The OVIN Demonstration Zone was launched in the summer of 2023 with a $2.5 million investment from the Ontario government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Through this platform, companies are leveraging the cities’ infrastructure to demonstrate and showcase innovations in real-world settings, driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of transformative automotive and smart mobility technologies. In support of these activities, the OVIN Demonstration Zone also provides access to city assets and infrastructure, support from different levels of government, guidance on policies and regulations, and feedback from city stakeholders and end-users, allowing companies to validate and further refine their solutions, and strengthen collaboration with the cities and industry to address mobility challenges.

For more information about the OVIN Demonstration Zone and the selected companies, visit: www.ovindz.ca

QUOTES:

“The OVIN Demonstration Zone continues to be a vital platform for Ontario-based companies to pilot and prove their innovative technologies in real-world environments. The first phase showed just how valuable it is for innovators to test their solutions within a living urban environment.  With the second group, we are building on that exciting momentum—congratulations to our second cohort technology companies! Thank you to the Province of Ontario for your leadership, and continued support of the OVIN and thank you to the City of Vaughan for your continued partnership. We look forward to seeing how these groundbreaking solutions will positively impact Markham’s thriving auto tech cluster and Ontario’s automobility ecosystem.” – Mayor Frank Scarpitti, City of Markham

“On behalf of the City of Vaughan, I am pleased to congratulate the six innovative companies that have been selected to participate in the second intake of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network Demonstration Zone. These innovative Ontario businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their automotive and mobility technologies in a real-world urban setting and demonstrate what is possible for the future. Companies like these will ensure we find Ontario-made solutions to keep our economy strong in the face of tariffs from the U.S. I want to thank Premier Ford, Minister Fedeli and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network for their continued support along with our partners at the City of Markham. As Vaughan is home to one of the largest automotive sectors in the province, and we must do everything we can to ensure it continues to be successful for generations to come.” - Mayor Steven Del Duca, City of Vaughan 

“Ontario leads the world in driving the future of automotive and mobility innovation by building platforms that bring technologies out of development and into the market, creating good-paying jobs and fostering economic growth in the process. The OVIN Demonstration Zone is a powerful catalyst for accelerating the commercialization and adoption of leading-edge technologies, transforming the transportation landscape, and showcasing the best of Ontario-made solutions to future customers and partners, in our province and across the world.” - Raed Kadri, Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network     

“Through the OVIN Demonstration Zone, Ontario is creating the conditions for companies to thrive, technologies to scale, and solutions to be proven in the real world. The Demonstration Zone is a shining example of how collaboration between government, municipalities, and innovators can unlock the full potential of our province’s mobility ecosystem. Congratulations to the six companies selected—your work is driving the future of transportation forward, right here in Ontario.” — Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation

Media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:   
media@markham.ca.  

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 Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 370,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy.  

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