R&D Partnership Fund – Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) and Smart Mobility: Stream 2

Overview of the R&D Partnership Fund – Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) and Smart Mobility: Stream 2 program:

This program focuses on advancing Ontario's automotive and mobility sectors by funding projects that develop and demonstrate technologies in key areas, including: Mass light vehicles (cars, trucks, vans) Heavy-duty vehicles (commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles) Transportation infrastructure Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Transit-supportive systems and vehicles Eligible projects should be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3-9 and involve collaboration between an applicant and at least one partner.

Benefits of the R&D Partnership Fund – Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) and Smart Mobility: Stream 2 program:

• Participants in the program can expect:
• Financial support to advance C/AV and smart mobility technology projects.
• Opportunities to commercialize Ontario-made technologies.
• Demonstration of technologies to potential customers.
• Collaboration with researchers to extend company R&D capabilities.
• Development of marketable solutions to current industry challenges.
• Fostering of public/private partnerships and collaboration.
• Societal benefits include increased road safety, improved road condition monitoring, enhanced collection and analysis of transportation-related information, innovative products and services to improve driver performance, and a reduced environmental and carbon footprint.

Eligibility criteria of the R&D Partnership Fund – Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) and Smart Mobility: Stream 2 program:

• Eligible applicants must:
• Be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 500 global, full-time employees.
• Have operations in Ontario and conduct the project within the province.
• Eligible partners include:
• SMEs
• National and multinational enterprises
• Academic institutions (as clients only)
• Municipalities
• Indigenous communities
• Not-for-profit organizations representing industry
• Crown corporations
• Transit authorities
• Additional partners can join the project, with no limit on the number of partners. Partnerships should represent significant potential commercial opportunities for all parties.