Most Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible for the program, all applicants will need to meet minimum requirements including protections for safety, privacy, cybersecurity, liability, insurance and viability.
The Challenge Stream invites applicants to submit innovative solutions within Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-9 (inclusive) to address a specific challenge issued by the program.
There are different ways to participate in the Demonstration Zone (DZ), including and demonstrating your technology, receiving consultation on your technologies, introductions to ecosystem partners, validating your technology in an urban operational environment, inclusion in OVIN DZ events and more. Even if your solution is not selected for demonstration, there are multiple avenues to get involved in DZ activities and within the cities of Markham and Vaughan.an.
The OVIN Demonstration Zone is proud to practice an open, fair, and transparent review process.
Eligible submissions will be brought to a Review Committee who will recommend demonstration projects based on eligibility criteria including: Uniqueness of application, Availability of space & resources, Complexity of innovation, Ability to solve a proposed mobility challenge, Company location, and more.
Funding is not provided for companies to demonstrate their solution. Companies are encouraged to access other provincial or federal funding programs.
The OVIN Demonstration Zone is not a procurement program- it is a testing program to validate and showcase emerging technologies. Companies can still participate in future procurement & business opportunities
If you are interested in doing business with the City of Vaughan or Markham, please explore: Vaughan Procurement Services and Markham Bids and Tenders.
In Markham, the Demonstration Zone will focus on Markham Centre; In Vaughan, demonstrations will be featured throughout the entire City of Vaughan.
For demonstration projects, your technology will gets to be tested in a real-world urban environment with the support of a city department or OVIN DZ partner, which may include support on administration of city processes and evaluation, technical advisory, exposure to ecosystem partners, live interaction and feedback from city stakeholders and project partners and businesses. The goal of these demonstrations is to support companies towards commercialization and accelerating implementation and expansion of their products and technologies.
This is a program funded by OVIN, and therefore companies that are based in Ontario may be given priority. If you have additional questions, please contact us.
A demonstration project is a short-term, temporary showcase within a limited time. Depending on the use case for the technology, demonstrations can be up to 6 months in duration.
Accepted participants may collaborate with city staff on the scope of work and deliverables for the demonstration project - as well as possibly internal and external OVIN Demonstration Zone stakeholders.
At the conclusion of the demonstration project, participants will collaborate on a final report with the municipal partner, technical consultant, and project support partners.
We encourage companies with mobility technologies to apply through the Open Call Stream or to check back in throughout 2024 for the release of future smart mobility challenge areas for our respective cities. If you have additional questions regarding your solution or its eligibility, please contact us.