The Government of Canada has announced up to $9.46 million in funding to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to enhance its Automotive Centre of Excellence in Oshawa, and to create new research and development jobs in the automotive industry.
The funding is a significant portion of the total of $12.5 million being invested in the centre.
The Automotive Centre of Excellence is an R&D facility that develops new automotive technologies. The 16,300 square metre facility houses one of the largest and most sophisticated wind tunnels in the world. The tunnel simulates weather conditions, such as severe wind, humidity, snow, ice and desert heat to measure vehicle safety, durability and efficiency.
The new funding will also support the integration of a Moving Ground Plane – a moving belt that acts like a road – and other leading edge aerodynamic and aero-acoustic enhancements, which will help researchers create cleaner, safer and more reliable vehicles.
Ottawa says the new funding will almost double the number of full time jobs at the facility, generate new training opportunities, promote research and development, and encourage the advancement of cleaner and safer technologies.
“The Government of Canada’s investment in this new advanced research infrastructure will drive commercialization of transformative vehicle technologies tied to energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction,” said Dr. Steven Murphy, president and vice chancellor of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. “It will further enhance the Automotive Centre of Excellence’s capacity to support Canadian economic growth and competitiveness, decrease time to market for new automotive products, and keep industry partners and jobs right here in Canada.”
Read the full press release here.
