Schaeffler Partners with Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to Accelerate Automotive and Mobility Innovation

2026-03-31 | Stratford

• Drive innovation in automotive and mobility technologies through collaboration with startups and academic institutions
• Accelerate rapid prototyping, market insights and development of next-generation automotive and mobility solutions

Schaeffler, the Motion Technology Company, announces a strategic partnership with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Incubators to advance innovation across the automotive and mobility sectors. Through this collaboration, Schaeffler will engage with a dynamic network of startups, academic institutions and industry partners to accelerate the development, validation, and scaling of transformative mobility solutions such as software-defined vehicles, battery technology, electric aviation and humanoid robotics.

OVIN Incubators provides access to emerging technologies and early-stage innovation, enabling Schaeffler to identify and evaluate new solutions that address evolving industry demands. By working directly with startups, Schaeffler can rapidly test and validate concepts, reduce development timelines, and bring high-impact motion solutions to market more efficiently.

At the same time, startups benefit from Schaeffler’s global footprint, technical depth, and industrialization expertise—bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and large-scale deployment.

Driving Innovation through Collaboration

Schaeffler will leverage its deep industrial expertise to support the transition of promising technologies from prototype to production, ensuring scalability and real-world application. The collaboration also fosters cross-sector knowledge exchange, connecting Schaeffler with leading innovators across the broader mobility ecosystem.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to innovation and collaboration,” said Jeff Hemphill, CTO of Schaeffler Americas.” By working closely with OVIN and its network, we are creating a pathway to connect with innovators and bring transformative motion technologies to the market faster.”

Ontario’s established automotive and mobility landscape, enriched by access to leading universities, research institutions, and a robust supply chain, offers an ideal foundation for co-developing emerging technologies. Through OVIN Incubators, Schaeffler will engage closely with startups and academic partners to drive the creation of new products while expanding its technological expertise.

“With each new OVIN Incubators strategic partnership, Ontario is seizing the moment and cementing its place as a global automotive and mobility powerhouse today and into the next century,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “As the OVIN Incubators continues to grow to meet the evolving needs of the sector, Ontario SMEs can access new opportunities to bring next-generation automotive and mobility solutions to market and scale globally, while creating good paying jobs that will strengthen the province’s economy and secure the future supply chain.”

This partnership underscores Schaeffler’s commitment to building a resilient, innovation-driven ecosystem that connects emerging technologies with real-world applications. By leveraging Schaeffler’s strengths as an established industry leader with agile startups and academia, the partnership is positioned to deliver meaningful advancements that will define the future of mobility.

Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in advanced automotive technology and smart mobility solutions such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies.

Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies. For more information: https://www.ovinhub.ca.