Backed by federal funding and industry partners, the initiative embeds 37 researchers inside Ontario-based EV companies to tackle challenges, including cold-weather performance, charging reliability, and battery efficiency

The University of Toronto (U of T) has launched a new industry–academic initiative aimed at accelerating the commercialization of electric vehicle and mobility technologies in Ontario.

The Electric Vehicle Innovation Ontario (EVIO) program will place 37 graduate and postdoctoral researchers directly within 20 EV and mobility companies across southern Ontario. Once placed, researchers will work on defined, real-world industry challenges ranging from battery systems and charging infrastructure reliability to power electronics, mobility software, cold-weather performance and advanced manufacturing.

U of T is leading the initiative in collaboration with seven other Ontario universities: Windsor, Western, Waterloo, York, Toronto Metropolitan University, Queen’s and Ottawa.

Under the program, researchers will spend a minimum of eight months working with an industry collaborator. During that time, they will focus on a specific innovation challenge while receiving mentorship from both industry and academic supervisors.

Ultimately, EVIO aims to close the gap between academic research and market-ready products by giving companies access to applied R&D capacity while providing researchers with hands-on industry experience.

“EVIO represents the kind of industry–research partnership Canada needs to meet our ambitions: agile, market-driven, and anchored in scientific excellence,” said Charmaine Dean, chair of the EVIO Steering Committee, in a press statement. “By embedding top researchers directly inside firms, we are closing the gap between discovery and deployment.”

Public funding and economic impact

U of T said EVIO’s research focus areas were selected to target technologies that are critical to expanding EV adoption and strengthening Canada’s position in a rapidly evolving global EV market.

To support the initiative, the federal government has committed $2.5 million through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Meanwhile, industry and academic partners are contributing an additional $5.4 million, bringing the program’s total value to $7.9 million.

According to U of T, EVIO is expected to generate more than $30 million in economic activity, expand firm-level R&D capacity and accelerate the creation of new Canadian intellectual property across the EV value chain.

“EVIO connects graduate researchers directly with industry, speeding up the development of advanced EV technologies while generating new IP and future economic growth for Canada,” said Arvind Gupta, scientific director of EVIO and a professor of computer science in U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science. “This is exactly the kind of partnership that positions Canadian innovators to lead globally.”

Each EVIO project is valued at approximately $90,000, with industry partners contributing $45,000 per project. The structure is intended to support company-led innovation while offering researchers competitive compensation, hands-on experience and direct pathways into high-growth careers.

The EVIO initiative will continue to launch new projects between 2026 and 2028.