Oct. 6, 2026, Toronto — The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is expanding its R&D Partnership Fund to include a new funding stream focused on defence, dual-use and space technologies. The expansion will help businesses to adapt and validate technologies to drive industrial development and reinforce Ontario’s role as a trusted partner in domestic and allied defence supply chains. “Fueled by an integrated advanced manufacturing sector and strong research and development ecosystem, Ontario stands as a trusted supply chain partner, ready to deliver on generational projects for Canada and its allies,” said Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, in a press statement. “By expanding OVIN’s R&D Partnership Fund to focus on defence, dual-use, and space technologies, we are ensuring Ontario businesses can adapt their operations to meet growing market demand and create new, good-paying jobs for our world-class workers.” The expansion will support Canada and Ontario’s Defence Industrial Strategies by enabling world class homegrown companies to bring their expertise to emerging defence, public safety and space-related markets. “Ontario’s strengths in autonomy, electrification, advanced manufacturing and connected systems are the key to powering the future of defence, public safety, and space,” said Raed Kadri, head of OVIN at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), in a media release. “The expansion of the OVIN R&D Partnership Fund to support our companies to enter these emerging markets will unlock new commercial opportunities in strategic sectors, strengthen Ontario and Canada’s industrial base and solidify our role as a global leader in the industries that intersect manufacturing, technology and critical minerals.” Through this new focus area, OVIN will support projects focused on the development, testing, validation and demonstration of technologies with defence, dual-use and space applications. Eligible projects may include innovations related to autonomous and uncrewed systems, drones, electrification, propulsion, sensor systems, satellite communications, space transportation, satellite-based positioning and earth observation technologies. The expanded stream will be included in the next R&D Partnership Fund intake, opening on October 7, 2026.