The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network is establishing an incubator at the University of Windsor to connect automotive researchers with industry.
The incubators also provide grant opportunities to help convert research into new ventures that help to solve challenges in the automobility sector.
"It gives students more opportunities to work closer with industry, more opportunities to take their research and turn it into new companies, more opportunities to either have good paying jobs in this community or start the companies that will create good paying jobs in this community and this province," said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN.
University of Windsor Dean of Engineering Bill Van Heyst said automotive and automobility research is happening throughout every aspect of the engineering department from electrical engineering to civil and environmental engineering.
"The idea is to connect people who have the ideas with companies that need those ideas and to develop the products," said Van Heyst. "A lot of times that's going to be a faculty member but it doesn't have to be, it could be actually be a small to medium enterprise that's already in existence in the area."
Students will have the opportunity to work with those researchers and develop their own ideas.
"A lot of times, those project that are super cool that we spend years on never really go anywhere. So something like this, to hear a project that is dedicated to making those things come to life is quite cool for us," said Matteo Pizzuto, PHD student. "We're academic researchers but to see this sort of investment for maybe some industry connection or to take these projects somewhere and make them tangible things, again its a testament to OVIN and the University of Windsor."
Similar incubators have also been established at University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.
Industry partners like Mercedes Benz, Infineon, and Schaeffler are already on board to work with the incubators.
