Ontario invests $4m for Automotive Centre of Excellence

Ontario, Canada has partnered the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and will invest $4 million (Rs 25 crore) for making the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) the most comprehensive aero and thermal test centre in the world.

Additionally, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is contributing $500,000 (Rs 3 crore) and Magna International is contributing $1 million (Rs 6 crore). Canadian auto-supplier Multimatic will provide engineering services from a team of highly talented automotive engineers to help develop this world class set of aerodynamic measurement tools.

Steven Del Duca, Ontario minister of economic development and growth and Granville Anderson, MPP for Durham, made the announcement in Oshawa.  Through the partnership, ACE will enhance its research facility by adding a Moving Ground Plane (MGP) — a giant belt that acts as a road moving under a vehicle, simulating the aerodynamic forces against moving vehicles and measuring the physical characteristics in real-world conditions.

The MGP will give students the tools to train and conduct research in a high-tech environment and help them prepare for the jobs of the future. Additionally, it will also help companies and researchers create new energy-efficient products and reduce carbon emissions in the auto industry.

Steven Del Duca, minister of economic development and growth, Ontario said: “Ontario is pleased to continue its support for UOIT’s Automotive Centre of Excellence – the innovations happening here every day are truly ground-breaking. Partnerships like this are essential to helping our province continue to lead the way in developing and commercialising transformative vehicle technologies. It will help keep Ontario’s auto sector at the cutting-edge of product innovation and competitiveness.”

Reza Moridi, minister of research, innovation and science, Ontario said: “Investing in auto innovation helps researchers make breakthrough discoveries to advance technology and drive economic growth across the province. This strategic investment will help accelerate the great work already taking place at the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE), which will help pave the way for new auto technologies, companies and jobs.”

Dr Steven Murphy, incoming president and vice-chancellor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, said: “This funding for the Moving Ground Plane confirms ACE as the world’s leading automotive research and testing facility. The Province of Ontario’s generous support, along with that of our industry partners, brings more learning opportunities to our students, generates industrial research, and helps increase economic growth in Ontario and Durham Region while keeping our industry partners here in Canada.”

Dave Pascoe, vice-president, engineering and R&D, Magna International, said: “Access to sophisticated engineering tools like this wind tunnel will enable companies like Magna to develop better passive and active aerodynamic products which reduce automobile fuel use and CO2 emissions into the environment.”  

ACE is the first testing and research facility of its kind in Canada. It was developed in partnership with the Government of Ontario, Government of Canada, UOIT, General Motors of Canada and the Partners for Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE).

Ontario plans to increase the number of post-secondary students graduating in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines by 25 percent over the next five years, to 50,000 per year. This will give Ontario the highest number per capita of post-secondary STEM graduates in North America.