Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), delivered by the Ontario Centre of Innovation, accelerates commercialization and adoption of next-generation automotive and mobility technologies. Its R&D Partnership Fund supports the development, testing, validation and demonstration of technology in four focus areas: Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (C/AV), Smart Mobility and AI; Electric Vehicles (EV); Advanced Charging and Vehicle to Grid (A/C & V2G); and Semiconductor and Hardware (S&H). Stream 1 provides up to $100,000 over a maximum of 12 months and Stream 2 up to $1,000,000 over a maximum of 24 months, and all OVIN funds must be matched by a minimum 2:1 contribution from the applicant and/or private sector partners.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a company incorporated and operating in Ontario, with the project carried out in Ontario
- Must be a small or medium enterprise with fewer than 500 global full-time employees
- Project must develop, test, validate or demonstrate automotive or mobility technology in one of OVIN's four focus areas: Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (C/AV), Smart Mobility and AI; Electric Vehicles (EV); Advanced Charging and Vehicle to Grid (A/C & V2G); Semiconductor and Hardware (S&H)
- Project must include demonstration of an actual product that can be showcased in Ontario — at events, on the road, to OCI and its partners, and/or at customer sites
- Technology must be at Technology Readiness Level 3-9 and advancing toward commercialization — the fund does not support proving feasibility or conducting basic technology research
- All OVIN funds must be matched by a minimum 2:1 contribution from applicants and/or private sector partners, in both streams — at least $200,000 from your side for a $100,000 Stream 1 award, and at least $2,000,000 for a $1,000,000 Stream 2 award
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $100,000 (Stream 1, maximum 12 months) or up to $1,000,000 (Stream 2, maximum 24 months) — all funds must be matched by a minimum 2:1 contribution from applicants and/or private sector partners
- Type
- Program
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 33% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- R&D Partnership Fund Round 2 2026/2027 — EOI deadline August 11, 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win OVIN
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 10 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 10-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipSecuring a strong industry partner before applying is the single most important factor.
Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Technology below TRL 3 (basic research only — OVIN funds development, not fundamental science)
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 10
Eligible Expenses 7
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Applying for OVIN? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow OVIN Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about OVIN