TECH BY TES
EDITOR’S NOTE: *Tech Bytes is a new Biz X column, featuring experts from WEtech Alliance and the community talking about the latest tech news, apps, gadgets, tech entrepreneurs, regional innovation trends, and more in each issue.
A Journey: From Motor City To Mobility City By Ed Dawson The Windsor Essex region is the “Automotive Capital of Canada.” This storied history has allowed our region to produce some amazing products that we see driving all around us. With the largest cluster of tool, die, and mould makers in North America, we have talent and expertise that can build anything for both the auto sector and beyond! We can proudly say we are a region of “Makers” and “Innovators” who know how to get things done. As technology progresses and consumer preferences evolve, so does the very nature of all the products we enjoy, including automobiles. There is a shift taking place linked to the future of mobility. Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies is one of the mobility technologies that has received much attention because of its potential to revolutionize the automotive industry and society. Consequently, there is a logical need to
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prepare for the evolution of transportation in our region and beyond. Just take a look across the Detroit River. We, too, have started our journey towards being a mobility-focused region. We were selected as a Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) through the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN) to help spur the advancement of CAV technologies in Ontario. Our efforts will focus on establishing a Virtual Reality Lab that will be located within the facilities of the Institute for Border Logistics and Security to help test and develop CAV technologies. We will use the Lab to partner with the University of Windsor, St. Clair College and other innovators, within our region and elsewhere, to help bring mobility innovations to market. As a region, we are working to build an ecosystem that supports this fast-evolving mobility space. On November 2, 2018, the WindsorEssex
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Economic Development Corporation (WE EDC) and WEtech Alliance hosted the region’s first-ever “Tech Mobility Day.” And in January, WE EDC, WEtech Alliance partnered with the University of Windsor and St. Clair College to exhibit at “Automobili-D” as part of the 2019 “North American International Auto Show” (more information on page 5). It was a great venue to promote our regional strengths and assets and demonstrate to companies working in the mobility space that the Windsor Essex region is a smart choice. The future of mobility in Windsor Essex is bright. Let’s take this journey together! Ed Dawson is the first-ever Mobility Analyst for the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation. Prior to starting this role in August of 2018, he was a Business Attraction Specialist with WE EDC working on a number of high profile attraction files and promoting our region as a great location to invest and live. He will continue doing this in this new role with a focus on companies in the Mobility space. Dawson received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Windsor and, fitting for the role, he is a vehicle enthusiast.
