Ontario invests in Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia to accelerate automotive and smart mobility innovation

Midhurst/March 4, 2026 – The Government of Ontario, through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), has announced an investment of $17.5 million to establish nine Regional Technology Development Sites (RTDS) across the province. Through this investment, the RTDS of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia has been launched as one of Ontario’s newest advanced automotive and smart mobility innovation hubs.

The RTDS is supported by a $1 million investment from OVIN, matched by almost $1.1 million in industry investments, $1 million from local government partners and more than $600,000 from post-secondary and other non-profit partners, representing a total investment of $3.7 million.

The RTDS is led by the County of Simcoe, in partnership with Invest Barrie and the City of Orillia, is designed to support Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in accelerating the development, testing, and commercialization of next-generation automotive and mobility solutions.

By leveraging Ontario’s regional strengths and expertise in automotive manufacturing, technology development, and applied research, the provincially coordinated RTDS network provides SMEs with access to specialized infrastructure, advanced research capabilities, and commercialization programming across the province. The RTDS of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia delivers a comprehensive suite of services through a strong network of regional partners and assets, including:

Georgian College: Through the Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping (CrISP), Ontario’s first Industry 5.0 sandbox and an NSERC Technology Access Centre, SMEs gain access to digital twin technologies, industrial simulation, and advanced prototyping. Additional support is provided through Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre, including intellectual property strategy, business model refinement, and commercialization planning.
Lakehead University: Lakehead University’s Orillia campus and the Barrie STEM Hub provide hands-on, high-tech learning and research environments focused on engineering, computer science, and smart mobility technologies. Faculty expertise spans wireless communications, sensors, robotics, machine learning, networking, and the Internet of Things, with additional battery research support available through Lakehead’s Thunder Bay campus. SMEs may also access the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law IP Program and Lakehead’s Ingenuity programming.
Oro Station Innovation Park: A purpose-built automotive innovation hub offering rugged terrain and controlled testing environments, with additional high-performance automotive facilities under development. Oro Station serves as a key destination for functional testing, validation, and real-world demonstration of emerging technologies.
Sandbox Centre: Alongside other regional accelerators, the Sandbox Centre delivers targeted commercialization readiness programming, mentorship, and founder support to help SMEs scale and attract strategic partners.
Honda of Canada Mfg.: Honda provides industry leadership through advisory and mentorship support, helping SMEs align with evolving hybrid and electric vehicle (H/EV) supply chains and industry requirements.
Access to Municipal Infrastructure: The County of Simcoe and the Cities of Barrie and Orillia are committed to exploring access to municipally owned assets to support SME testing and validation. These include roadways, transit buses, autonomous snow removal equipment, roundabouts, heavy machinery, and rail systems, offering highly controlled, real-world environments for product validation.

Simcoe County has a strong automotive legacy, with roughly 9,000 motor vehicle and parts manufacturing jobs and a growing automotive cluster. The RTDS builds on this foundation by strengthening the region’s role in advanced manufacturing, automotive innovation, and smart mobility. It will drive job creation, attract investment, and train the next generation of skilled talent while supporting Ontario’s goals for electrification and clean mobility. By connecting SMEs with worldclass testing facilities, research expertise, and commercialization support, the RTDS will help keep Ontario a leading global hub for automotive and mobility technology.

For more information on the RTDS of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia, including expressing interest in accessing programs and services offered, please visit edo.simcoe.ca/rtds.

Quotes

“As a global leader in the automotive and mobility sector, Ontario is driving the transformation towards a connected, electric future. The OVIN Regional Technology Sites provide Ontario-based SMEs access to an extensive network of support and expertise and reduce barriers for start-ups and companies to create homegrown solutions to meet not only Ontario’s needs, but those of customers all across the globe, to drive our economy forward.” – Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN

“Through OVIN, Ontario is creating a province-wide network that turns regional innovation into real economic impact. By establishing nine Regional Technology Development Sites, we’re giving SMEs access to world-class infrastructure and expertise that helps them commercialize faster, strengthen supply chains, and compete globally. This investment ensures that made-in-Ontario mobility solutions drive jobs, growth, and long-term competitiveness across the province.” – Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation

“Simcoe County has a strong and proud history in the automotive sector. The establishment of the RTDS of Simcoe County, Barrie, and Orillia represents a significant opportunity to further strengthen our automotive supply chain, advance made-in-Simcoe County technologies, and secure future automotive investments. OVIN’s support is essential as our region helps accelerate innovation and fuel growth across Ontario’s automotive and mobility ecosystem.” – Warden Basil Clarke, Simcoe County

We thank the Province of Ontario, through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, for their $1 million investment into our region. This funding, alongside industry support, will give local businesses the tools they need to innovate, grow, and create good jobs right here in Barrie and across Simcoe County.” – Alex Nuttall, Mayor of Barrie

“Orillia is pleased to stand alongside the County of Simcoe and Invest Barrie in launching a new Regional Technology Development Site through Ontario’s Vehicle Innovation Network. This investment brings meaningful opportunity to our region, giving small and medium-sized businesses access to the research support, testing environments, and municipal infrastructure they need to move ideas from concept to commercialization. By working together, we are helping ensure that innovation in automotive and smart mobility has a strong home here in Simcoe County.” – Don McIsaac, Mayor of Orillia

“Georgian College is proud to play a vital role in the launch of the RTDS for Simcoe County. Through our Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping, Ontario’s first Industry 5.0 sandbox, and the expertise of our faculty, researchers and students, Georgian is helping local companies accelerate the development, testing and commercialization of next generation technologies. Through a contribution of in-kind support and institutional investment, this collaboration fuels economic growth, develops talent, and ensures that made-in-Ontario solutions shape the future of mobility — reinforcing our region’s leadership in advanced manufacturing, automotive innovation and smart mobility”
– Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College

“Oro Station is honoured to be a key industry partner of the new Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) of Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia. OVIN’s support provides critical validation and momentum, enabling applied research, testing, and commercialization in Oro Station’s purpose-built automotive environment. The RTDS strengthens the bridge between education, industry, and advanced vehicle development and reinforces Simcoe County’s position as a growing hub for mobility innovation and economic growth in Ontario.” – Geoffrey Campbell, Managing Partner, ORO Station

“As a 40-year automotive pioneer in this region, and with our belief in building where we sell, Honda knows first-hand how essential local innovation is to Simcoe County’s long-term success. That’s why Honda of Canada Mfg. is proud to continue its contribution and investment in the community and local talent by partnering with the County of Simcoe on the Regional Technology Development Site. This collaboration will help advance local innovation close to home and strengthen the region’s leadership in emerging technologies.” – Bobbi Curran, Vice President, Honda of Canada Mfg.

“Investments in initiatives like the RTDS strengthen the innovation ecosystem here in Simcoe County by creating meaningful collaboration and exchange between industry and academia. Enabling innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to come together through this network will accelerate the adoption of innovation and drive real-world impact. Just as importantly, in collaboration with our regional partners, including Georgian College, we are preparing the future workforce to pursue rewarding careers in these emerging fields, supporting local communities and economies.” – Dr. Langis Roy, Vice-President Research & Innovation, Lakehead University

“OVIN’s support of the RTDS represents more than funding, it is a commitment to building a globally competitive innovation corridor here in Simcoe County. By enabling founders, researchers, and industry partners to test, validate, and commercialize advanced automotive and mobility technologies, OVIN is accelerating economic growth and strengthening Ontario’s leadership in the future of transportation. Sandbox Centre is proud to partner in this effort to ensure our region continues to attract talent, investment, and breakthrough companies.” – Dina Tzirakos-Hawker, Managing Director, Sandbox Centre

About the County of Simcoe

County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.

About the RTDS Network

These combined investments strengthen Ontario’s mobility ecosystem and support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to state-of-the-art testing facilities, advisory services, and commercialization pathways.

About the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (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 (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.

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