C/AV and Smart Mobility — Stream 1
Highlights
This program is designed for businesses like yours that are involved in developing connected and autonomous vehicle (C/AV) and smart mobility technologies. By participating, you can receive up to $100,000 in co-investment to support your project. This funding can help you with development, testing, validation, and demonstration of your innovative solutions.
Why should you apply?
- Significant financial support: Up to $100,000 in funding, matched by a minimum 2:1 contribution from you or your partners.
- Commercialization opportunities: Showcase your Ontario-made technologies to potential customers and partners.
- Collaborative partnerships: Work with researchers and other businesses to extend your R&D capabilities.
What’s in it for you?
- Enhanced marketability: Develop marketable solutions to current challenges in the transportation sector.
- Competitive advantage: Gain a strong commercial pull and competitive edge with scalable outcomes.
- Societal benefits: Contribute to increased road safety, better road condition monitoring, and reduced environmental impact.
Applying is straightforward, and with the support of an OCI Business Development Manager, you will have guidance throughout the process. This program offers a unique opportunity to advance your business and make a significant impact in the smart mobility sector.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Co-Investment
Funding Amount: Up to $100,000
Repayment Terms:
- No repayment required. This is a co-investment, not a loan.
Eligible Expenses:
- Development of connected and autonomous vehicle (C/AV) technologies.
- Testing and validation of C/AV technologies.
- Demonstration of smart mobility technologies.
- Proof-of-concept development.
- Product/service validation.
- Piloting new technologies.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Basic technology research.
- Feasibility studies.
- General operational costs not directly related to the project.
Fees:
- No application fees.
- No ongoing fees associated with the co-investment.
Qualifications
- Must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with fewer than 500 global, full-time employees.
- Must have operations in Ontario and carry out the project in Ontario.
Must have at least one partner, which can include:
- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
- National and multinational enterprises (NEs and MNEs)
- Academic institutions (as clients only)
- Municipalities
- Indigenous communities
- Not-for-profit organizations representing industry
- Crown Corporations
- Transit Authorities
Disqualifications:
- Projects intended to prove feasibility or for basic technology research.
Description
This program offers your business up to $100,000 in funding for projects related to connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AV) and smart mobility technologies. This money can be used for developing, testing, validating, and demonstrating your innovative solutions.
You can use the funds for:
- Mass light vehicles like cars, trucks, and vans
- Heavy-duty vehicles such as commercial trucks and buses
- Transportation infrastructure
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
- Transit-supportive systems and vehicles
The funding must be matched by a minimum 2:1 contribution from you or your private sector partners. This means for every dollar you receive, you need to contribute two dollars. The program supports projects over a maximum of 12 months, helping you bring your technology to market faster.
Key benefits include:
- Commercializing Ontario-made technologies
- Demonstrating your innovations to potential customers
- Building relationships with researchers to extend your R&D
- Creating marketable solutions to current challenges
- Forming public/private partnerships and collaborations
This program is a great opportunity to advance your business while contributing to road safety, better transportation systems, and reduced environmental impact.
Program Steps
Complete the Client Intake Form: Start by filling out the client intake form available on the program’s website.
Consult with an OCI Business Development Manager (BD): After submitting the intake form, an OCI Business Development Manager will contact you. They will discuss the opportunity and assist you throughout the application process.
Prepare Documentation: Gather the necessary documents for your application. These include:
- Program Guidelines
- OCI Funding Agreement
- Eligible Expenditures Guide
- Full Proposal Questionnaire
- Letter of Support Template
- Data and Information Sharing Protocol (DISP) documents
Develop a Full Proposal: Work on your full proposal, ensuring it aligns with the program’s objectives and requirements. Include details on project activities, expected outcomes, and the collaboration with your partners.
Submit the Full Proposal: Once your proposal is complete, submit it through the designated submission process outlined by the program.
Review and Feedback: The program administrators will review your proposal. Be prepared to provide additional information or make revisions if requested.
Approval and Funding: If your proposal is approved, you will receive up to $100,000 in co-investment funding. Ensure you understand the terms and conditions of the funding agreement.
Project Implementation: Begin your project, adhering to the agreed timeline and budget. Maintain regular communication with your OCI BD for oversight and support.
Reporting and Compliance: Throughout the project, submit required reports and documentation to demonstrate progress and compliance with program guidelines.
Completion and Evaluation: Upon project completion, provide a final report detailing outcomes, lessons learned, and future steps. This will help evaluate the project’s success and impact.