R&D Partnership Fund – Electric Vehicle (EV) Stream 1

The R&D Partnership Fund – Electric Vehicle (EV) – Stream 1 Program supports projects related to the development and demonstration of technologies in electric vehicles (EV) and battery manufacturing technologies in the following priority areas:

• Mass light vehicles, such as cars, trucks and vans
• Heavy duty vehicles, including commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles (RVs), and others used for goods movement
• Charging infrastructure
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
• Transit-supportive systems and vehicles

Examples of EV and battery-focused technologies, and other EV related technologies:

• Light weighting
• Electrified powertrains, electric motors, transmission systems, battery management systems
• EV batteries, battery materials and chemistry, component manufacturing processes
• Charging systems and EV fleet management technologies
• Hydrogen and alternative fuel cell EVs
• Electric micro-mobility

For eligible projects, applicants, and partners:

• Commercialization of Ontario-made technologies
• Demonstration of Ontario-made technologies to potential customers
• Relationships with researchers to extend company R&D
• Marketable solutions to current challenges
• Public/private partnerships and collaboration

For society:

• Increased road safety
• Better road condition monitoring
• Better collection and analysis of transportation-related information
• Innovative new products and services to improve driver performance
• Reduced environmental and carbon footprint

The R&D Partnership Fund – EV – Stream 1 Program supports approved projects with up to $100,000 in funding over a maximum of 12 months. All funds must be matched by a minimum 2:1 contribution from applicants and/or private sector partners.

Eligible Applicants

• Applicants are Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) defined as having fewer than 500 global, full-time employees.
• Applicants are required to have operations in Ontario and carry out their project in Ontario.

Eligible partners

• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
• National and multinational enterprises (NEs and MNEs)
• Academic institutions (as clients only)
• Municipalities
• Indigenous communities
• Not-for-profit organizations representing industry
• Crown Corporations
• Transit Authorities

Additional partners can also join the project.  There is no limit on the number of partners. Partnerships should represent significant potential commercial opportunities for all parties.

Eligible Projects

• One applicant and a minimum of one partner, as defined above. 
• Stream 1 supports a total budget of up to $300,000 over 12 months

• This program is not intended to prove feasibility or for basic technology research. Projects should be at Technology Readiness Level 3-9.
• Typical project activities include technology proof-of-concept development, demonstration, product/service validation, testing, and piloting.
• Applicant and Partners should demonstrate close collaboration and scalable outcomes with high potential for commercialization, strong commercial pull, competitive advantage, and alignment with intended program benefits.

The R&D Partnership Fund – Electric Vehicle (EV): Stream 1 has a single Full Proposal stage.

To begin the EOI application process, please complete a client intake form. An OCI Business Development Manager (BD) will contact you to discuss the opportunity and assist you. Your OCI BD will also maintain oversight responsibility for the OCI components of any approved project.

Reference documentation (the Program Guidelines, the OCI Funding Agreement, the Eligible Expenditures Guide, the Full Proposal Questionnaire, the Letter of Support Template, and the Data and Information Sharing Protocol (DISP) documents) are available on the OVIN Resource Document Page.