Companies Demo Emerging Technologies at the Second TCXpo Hosted by Area X.O, Transport Canada and Fellow Partners
Ottawa, Ontario; September 27, 2023 – Area X.O, the R&D complex operated by Invest Ottawa for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy and connectivity, Transport Canada (TC) and fellow partners are delighted to host TCXpo, the national smart mobility tech demonstration day, today in Canada’s Capital.
Hosted in the heart of Ottawa, a global tech hub with the highest concentration of tech talent in North America, TCXpo will bring together more than 70 companies from coast to coast to host live technology demonstrations and exhibits at Area X.O. More than 1,000 stakeholders from industry, government, academia and the investment community will descend on Area X.O’s 1,800-acre private innovation facility to participate in this epic demo day. It creates a unique opportunity to experience the impact of cutting-edge Canadian technologies, including many targeting global markets valued in the billions.
Startups, scaleups, small- and medium-sized companies from Canada’s Capital and across the country will demonstrate innovations in different stages of development. They include connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), drones, advanced robots, smart city solutions, IoT (Internet of Things), sensors and data analytics, smart farming innovations and more. These smart mobility applications span many sectors of our economy – from intelligent transportation to defence, public safety, smart farming, telecom, cleantech, environment and smart cities. They also represent significant market opportunity. According to a report by Spherical Insights & Consulting, the global smart mobility market was valued at USD $48.54 billion in 2022, and it is expected to exceed USD $403 Billion by 2032.
Many of the demonstrators and exhibitors have benefitted from capabilities, programs, and support provided by Transport Canada, the Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Innovative Solution Canada (ISC) Challenge Program, DND’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), NGen Canada, the advanced manufacturing supercluster and Area X.O. TCXpo will enable all participating companies to engage prospective talent, clients, partners, suppliers, investors and regulators throughout the day. These connections can stimulate new R&D, business and investment opportunities that propel growth and success.
Building on five years of collaboration between Area X.O and TC and the inaugural TCXpo in 2022, this second demo day has attracted 50 percent more demonstrators and double the number of participants. It features:
- High-profile announcements, special guests and a wealth of networking
- Guided tours with the opportunity to experience $51M in capabilities available to smart mobility companies at Area X.O; this includes one of the world’s most advanced communications infrastructures; leading cybersecurity, data analytics and simulation capabilities; a 100-acre smart farm; and the only drone and advanced robotics testing and training facility of its kind in Canada
- CTV Ottawa’s Rosey Edeh who will serve as a roving reporter on the ground with live-streaming
TCXpo is an anchor event in Smart Mobility Week in Canada’s Capital, together with the Transportation Association of Canada conference from September 24 to 27, and CAV Canada, the flagship smart mobility thought leadership conference hosted by Area X.O, Invest Ottawa and Kanata North Business Association on September 28.
TCXpo is made possible through a joint venture between Area X.O operated by Invest Ottawa, Transport Canada, and generous contributions from:
- Government of Canada partners including ISED; DND, FedDev Ontario, and NGen
- Area X.O sponsors including FCC, MDK Business Law, and Rogers
- TCXpo event sponsors including Ansys, Bradley Kelly, InDro Robotics, Nokia, OC Transpo, Optimal Show Experience (OSE), Ottawa International Airport and Ottawa Tourism
- Area X.O co-founding partners including the Government of Canada (FedDev Ontario), the Government of Ontario (through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network managed by the Ontario Centre of Innovation), the City of Ottawa, Accenture, BlackBerry QNX, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia and Ottawa’s post-secondary institutions
Featured Quotes Available to Media
“It is a privilege to collaborate with Transport Canada and all partners on the second edition of TCXpo. This demonstration day drives action on our updated five-year strategic plan and our vision for Area X O. It enables us to help innovators and companies in Canada’s Capital and across the country leverage Ottawa’s unique capabilities and expertise to commercialize their technologies and grow their business. The firms with us today are improving our world, creating new jobs, and fuelling our economy. And they are doing it as part of a thriving, collaborative national ecosystem. We are honoured to be a part of it.”
- Michael Tremblay, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa
“TCXpo brings together hundreds of innovators and companies developing and commercializing smart mobility innovations that will fuel our economy and create lasting positive change. The Government of Canada is pleased to support Invest Ottawa in their efforts to help Canadian innovators thrive in this important sector.”
- The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“Technology and innovation foster economic growth and can help enhance our transportation systems. The Government of Canada is excited to be working with organizations like Invest Ottawa to showcase Canadian talent in smart mobility, zero emission technologies, and drones Canada is a global leader in transportation innovation, and TCXpo showcases some of our best and brightest technologies.”
- The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport
“Invest Ottawa continues to support innovators here in Ottawa which is boosting our local economy. TCXpo provides a space for companies to create valuable connections and create growth and job opportunities for the future.”
- Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean
“Demonstration events such as TCXpo are essential for the defence innovation ecosystem to build defence capabilities. Advances in domains such as Cybersecurity, 5G, AI and machine learning technology being showcased at TCXpo are critical paths to future defence needs.”
- Jaspinder Komal, Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Research and Development Canada, Department of National Defence
“It’s truly exciting to see the emerging technologies developed by innovators and companies right here in Ottawa. TXCpo, hosted by Area X.O, Transport Canada and fellow collaborators, along with ongoing R&D at Area X.O and across Ottawa’s tech hub, underscores Ottawa’s pivotal role in shaping smart mobility innovation and its global impact. This fortifies our technology sector, creates new jobs, and attracts new business and investment to our city.”
- His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa
“It is a great pleasure to celebrate dozens of smart mobility innovators and firms from Ottawa and across the province, and the new technologies they are demonstrating at TCXpo. This event directly supports the goals of the Government of Ontario, and the investments we have made through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Area X.O operated by Invest Ottawa is a Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) within this pan-provincial network that is fueling technology commercialization, job creation and the growth of Ontario’s economy. This impact is on full display today at Area X.O here in my riding.”
- Lisa MacLeod, MPP, Nepean
“NGen is the industry-led, non-profit organization leading Canada’s global innovation cluster for advanced manufacturing. In support of this mandate, we have developed a cross-country network of clients, project partners, and clusters all working to enhance the competitiveness and grow Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector. This includes Area X.O and many innovators and companies developing and commercializing new smart mobility technologies. TCXpo directly supports our objectives by creating a unique opportunity for NGen-supported companies to engage a critical mass of investors and clients.”
- Jayson Myers, President and CEO, NGen Canada
“AirShare designs and manufactures the OVERWATCH(R) system to detect, track, and safely mitigate wayward and malicious drones. Our novel countermeasure safely downs drones by entangling their propellers, blocking air intakes, jamming their control surfaces, and obscuring important flight sensors. We have collaborated with DND, many customers, and Invest Ottawa throughout our entrepreneurial journey. We are excited to showcase our defence and public safety solution at TXCpo this year as we continue to pursue domestic and international market opportunities.”
- Shanaz Sigouin, Co-founder and Chief Administration Officer, AirShare, Inc.
“Building on our evolving partnership with Area X.O and Invest Ottawa, InDro Robotics is honoured to lead and manage the drone and robotics demonstrations zone at TCXpo again this year. We are excited to showcase our latest innovations, and welcome companies from across Canada to this demo day. It enables us to highlight how Area X.O and its newly established Drone and Advanced Robotics Testing and Training (DARTT) facility can accelerate the safe commercialization of these technologies. These capabilities are one of the key reasons we chose to build our R&D team here in Ottawa.”
- Philip Reece, Founder and CEO, InDro Robotics
“Sensor Cortek is at the forefront of AI innovation, specializing in the development of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms that aim to enhance the functionality of perception systems across various industries, with a focus on advanced driver-assistance and autonomous vehicles. We continue to leverage the unique capabilities of Area X.O to accelerate the commercialization of our technology. As a participant in the inaugural TXCpo event last September, I can speak to the value it provides first-hand. We are excited to showcase the new features of our solution for the hundreds of stakeholders coming together at this national demo day.”
- Fahed Hassanat, Co-Founder, COO and Head of Engineering, Sensor Cortek
“JPlug.io is bringing the convenience of charging electric vehicles to condominium and multi-family dwellings parking spots. Our business targets condominium developers, condo residents and property managers, and strives to give everyone who owns an electric vehicle immediate access to the economical and comfort benefits of electric mobility. We are excited to leverage the unique capabilities of Area X.O, and demonstrate our innovation for prospective clients, partners and investors at TCXpo. This is a critical opportunity as we scale our business and drive the adoption of our product.”
- Jorge Pantoja, Founder and CEO, JPlug.io
“The collective efforts of innovators and companies showcased today not only strengthen our technology sector but also contribute to job creation, attracting new investments, and advancing smart mobility innovation on a global scale.”
- Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)
About Area X.O
Area X.O is the R&D complex in Canada’s Capital that enables and accelerates the safe and secure development, testing, and adoption of next-generation smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity technologies. Area X.O helps startups, SMEs, multinationals, and governments address grand challenges and opportunities, and get to market faster. Combining diverse expertise with Ottawa’s telecom and cybersecurity strengths as a global tech hub and operating one of the most advanced communications infrastructures in the world, it is the only all-weather R&D complex of its kind in North America with a private and public Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) test facility on city streets that fuels the creation, commercialization, and adoption of breakthrough smart mobility innovations. These applications benefit our community, economy, and environment, and span: telecom, smart agriculture, defence, security, and public safety; unmanned aerial vehicles, and smart cities. Established and managed by Invest Ottawa, Area X.O leverages critical support from world-class founding partners, including: the Government of Canada (through FedDev Ontario), the Government of Ontario (through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network managed by the Ontario Centre of Innovation), the City of Ottawa, Accenture, BlackBerry QNX, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, and Ottawa’s post-secondary institutions. For additional information, please visit: www.AreaXO.com
About Invest Ottawa
Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital, facilitating economic growth and job creation in Ottawa. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognized, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion, and talent programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. These include small business training, mentorship, acceleration for technology firms, foreign business and investment attraction, local business retention and expansion in targeted sectors, commercialization, and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life. Invest Ottawa is also the manager of Bayview Yards, Ottawa’s innovation hub and one-stop business acceleration shop; and founder and operator of Area X.O, the R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy and connectivity technologies. Since 2013, Invest Ottawa has supported almost 14,000; contributed to the creation of more than 14,700 jobs; helped domestic companies raise $1.86 billion in capital; and attracted $1.47 billion in domestic and foreign direct investment to Ottawa. For more information, please visit: www.investottawa.ca
About Transport Canada (TC)
Transport Canada (TC) is responsible for developing and overseeing the Government of Canada’s transportation policies and programs so that Canadians can have access to a transportation system that is:
- Safe and secure;
- Green and innovative; and
- Efficient.
TC works towards these objectives by:
- Proposing and updating policies, laws and regulations;
- Conducting inspections, enforcement activities and surveillance of the transportation industry’s equipment, operations, and facilities; and
- Providing funding to organizations for projects that strengthen the transportation network, including safety improvement projects, technological innovations and green transportation initiatives.
Media Contact
Sonya Shorey
Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Communications
Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards
613.851.9416