Toronto, ON – April 16, 2025 – Today, at the opening of Ontario’s largest innovation and technology trade show, DiscoveryX, Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) announced the launch of 10 new Technology Development Sites (Dev Sites) under the Critical Industrial Technologies (CIT) initiative.  

“With over 85,000 tech professionals, Ontario stands at the forefront of global innovation and technology,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By designating 10 new Technology Development Sites, we’re giving small and medium-sized businesses across the province the support they need to boost their competitiveness, speed up the delivery of made-in-Ontario solutions, and create quality jobs that will drive economic growth throughout Ontario.” 

CIT is Ontario’s flagship initiative driving the adoption, commercialization and talent development of Critical Technologies in four key sectors- Mining, Construction, Agri-food and Advanced Manufacturing. 

“These ten Technology Development Sites are an integral part of Ontario’s innovation ecosystem,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). “Through the Critical Industrial Technologies initiative, we are making top-tier testing facilities accessible to SMEs across the province, helping them accelerate commercialization and develop tomorrow’s technologies right here in Ontario.” 

These Sites form a cross-provincial CIT network of Critical Technology and sectoral capabilities providing Ontario small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with real-world testing environments to develop, test, and showcase critical technology products and services, accelerating their path to market and strengthening the province’s position as a leader in technological innovation and Critical Technology adoption. 

“Ontario’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, with roughly 500,000 businesses that employ more than 2.5 million workers across our province,” said Nina Tangri MPP for Mississauga Streetsville & Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business. “These new development sites will be instrumental in helping innovators bring new technology to life and create more jobs and businesses across our province. Ontario’s entrepreneurs in tech show us day in and day out, what it means to be dedicated, think big, and innovate.” 

“As Ontario prepares to lead a rapidly evolving global industrial economy, it is crucial to build a connected, province-wide network that fuels the development, testing, and adoption of critical technologies,” said Raed Kadri, Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives and Business Development, OCI and Head of OVIN. “From robotics and AI to cybersecurity and sustainable construction, the new Technology Development Sites under the Critical Industrial Technologies initiative will provide Ontario companies the competitive edge they need to transform the mining, construction, agri-food, and advanced manufacturing sectors and fuel a more resilient economy.” 

Overview of the Technology Development Sites:

1. Cambrian College Centre for Smart Mining – Provides SMEs access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the MacLean Engineering Research and Training Facility, and expertise to enhance automation, robotics, and digital transformation in mining operations. ““Legacy industries like mining have long struggled to effectively and efficiently adopt the latest technologies. The Centre for Smart Mining was founded to help facilitate this process. The Critical

Industrial Technologies program has provided the centre the resources to help firms commercialize new technologies and the connectivity to Ontario’s most innovative tech companies. These critical technologies are essential for the mining sector’s continued competitiveness globally.”—Stephen Gravel, Manager for Centre for Smart Mining at Cambrian College

2. NORCAT Centre – Supports SMEs in developing and testing emerging mining technologies, offering access to underground test beds and commercialization support. “The NORCAT Underground Centre provides a unique operating environment where companies can develop, test, and demonstrate emerging technologies in an underground operating mine. This ability to de-risk and validate solutions in a practical setting is what sets us—and the innovators we support—apart. Supported by the expertise and guidance of the Ontario Centre of Innovation, we’re helping companies expedite the pathway from concept to commercialization with confidence, credibility, and impact.” —Don Duval, CEO, NORCAT

3. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre – Helps SMEs in the agri-food sector innovate and commercialize solutions in horticultural and agricultural technologies. ” “Vineland is proud to advance horticulture innovation through the OCI Critical Technologies Initiative. By leveraging our infrastructure, expertise, and sector engagement, we’re helping Ontario-based SMEs integrate critical technologies like AI and robotics to boost efficiency, quality, and sustainability. Our Technology Development Site supports product development, testing, and commercialization, and our upcoming Demonstration Days will help accelerate tech adoption across the agri-food sector.” –Vineland Research and Innovation Centre”

4. Centre for Meat Innovation & Technology – Provides SMEs in the food processing sector with advanced facilities and expertise to enhance meat processing innovation and sustainability. “We are thrilled to partner with the Ontario Centre of Innovation and be part of the Critical Industrial Technologies initiative. Robotics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity are not just buzzwords—they are essential tools for the future of meat processing in Ontario. This partnership allows us to connect with innovative Ontario-based companies and demonstrate how their cutting-edge technologies can help modernize our sector, enhance competitiveness, and drive sustainable growth for years to come.” –Franco Naccarato, Executive Director at Meat & Poultry Ontario

5. Evergreen Brick Works – Supports SMEs working on sustainable urban innovation, construction, and climate-focused infrastructure solutions. ““A healthy and sustainable future for our communities requires new ways of thinking about the places we share. Through the Centre for Better Public Spaces and our partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation, Evergreen will welcome ideas in climate-ready design and construction to be tested and brought to life. We recognize the value in bringing diverse people together that might not otherwise find each other from across sectors and community, to seed new approaches and shape the public spaces of tomorrow.” –Jennifer Angel, CEO, Evergreen Brick Works”

6. McMaster University – Offers SMEs access to a premier research and development hub for construction, advanced manufacturing, and cleantech innovations through the McMaster Innovation Park and McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute. “McMaster University is proud to join OCI’s CIT initiative, building on our strong track record of advancing technology and collaborating with Ontario SMEs. Through the MMRI (Advanced Manufacturing Development Site) and MIP (Construction Development Site), we’re excited to support manufacturers and builders with everything from prototyping to testing in real-world settings.”— Stephen Veldhuis (MMRI) & Gay Yuyitung (MIP)

7. University of Waterloo RoboHub – Offers SMEs access to cutting-edge robotics technology and research collaboration with the pre-commercial Rogers 5G testbed to advance robotics and automation applications. “This initiative will open up Ontario commercialization opportunities as innovators can build solutions using next-generation networking and robotics. As home to Canada’s largest and most active robotics and automation research group, the University of Waterloo is uniquely positioned to drive innovation in this space. In collaboration with Rogers Communications, the RoboHub will support SMEs through expert knowledge and consultation towards integrating 5G technology with advanced sensing, mobile robotics, and human-robot collaboration. –William Melek, Professor, University Research Chair, and RoboHub Director

8. uOttawa-IBM Cyber Range – Provides a world-class cybersecurity testing environment for SMEs to assess, improve, and validate their cybersecurity resilience. ““Through our strategic partnership with IBM Canada and the Ontario Centre of Innovation, we are not only advancing cybersecurity capabilities but also empowering Canadian businesses to stay ahead of emerging threats in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Over the next 24 months, we aim to support 30 SMEs through our state-of-the-art uOttawa-IBM Cyber Range. Participating SMEs will have access to a comprehensive catalogue of tailored service offerings and will engage in immersive cybersecurity simulations as part of their experience.” –Guy-Vincent Jourdan, co-Director, uOttawa-IBM Cyber Range

9. ventureLAB – Helps SMEs scale their AI-enabled technologies with high-performance compute, technical advisory, and advanced AI feature development. “This bold initiative strengthens Ontario’s position at the forefront of AI and innovation. By expanding our computing infrastructure, we’re not just investing in technology, we’re empowering the startups and small businesses that are shaping the future of AI right here at home. It’s about equipping Ontario’s innovators with the tools they need to secure, affordable, and built to scale,” said Sep Assadian, VP of Founder Services at ventureLAB. “We are also advancing Canada’s priorities around data sovereignty, sustainability, and homegrown development. This is about more than infrastructure, it’s about creating long-term economic value and ensuring Canada has a strong, independent voice in the global tech landscape.” – Sep Assadian, VP of Founder Services at ventureLAB

10. Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Manufacturing (AI4AM) – Supports SMEs in energy, bio-industrial, and advanced manufacturing sectors with applied research expertise and cutting-edge facilities. “As a recognized leader in applied research and innovation, Lambton College is proud to contribute to the CIT network and Ontario’s vision of technology-driven economic growth,” said Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation at Lambton College. “Through AI4AM we are equipping SMEs with cutting-edge AI tools and expertise, we are enabling innovation that drives sustainability, resilience, and economic growth across the province.” –Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation at Lambton College.

About the Ontario Centre of Innovation:

The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative research and development, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians. As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing groundbreaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly skilled talent. (oc-innovation.ca)

About the Critical Industrial Technologies Initiative:

The Critical Industrial Technologies (CIT) initiative is a suite of programs available to Ontario SMEs to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of critical technologies—5G, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and robotics —across key sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Construction, and Mining. Focusing on talent development, product innovation, and sector transformation projects, CIT is building the future of industry in Ontario. For more information about the Critical Industrial Technologies initiative and the Technology Development Sites, please visit OCI’s CIT Program Page.

Media Contact: Alicia Pereira, Ontario Centre of Innovation, apereira@oc-innovation.ca