Centennial has a strong history of research activity that leverages expertise from our School of Transportation, the largest on-site transportation training facility in Canada. Our automotive labs host the latest in technology for cars, trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles, and we have a fully equipped hangar for our aerospace and avionics students.
Centennial’s innovation in transportation brings college faculty and students together with industrial partners to develop innovative solutions that explore technologies related to smart, connected, autonomous and electric vehicle innovation, and support our transition to a zero-carbon future.
Our research in this area is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and our industry partners.
For more information on transportation innovation and collaboration, contact Wenzi Ckurshumova, Associate Director, Research and Innovation, atwckurshumova@centennialcollege.ca.
SmartTO Regional Technology Development Site
Centennial College is part of SmartTO, a Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) in the heart of Toronto empowering startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive and smart mobility sector. Supported by the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), SmartTO supports the development, testing, validation, prototyping and commercialization of advanced automotive technologies and smart mobility solutions by providing access to state of the-art equipment, innovative labs and research centres, world-renowned expertise, and concierge-style business advisory and technical services.
Are you an Ontario-based startup or SME with an innovation or technology in smart mobility, smart materials and light weighing, system reliability, battery testing, or Smart Grid Integration? We can help you access the right network and mobility ecosystem to grow. Work with us through SmartTO!
SmartTO Innovation Challenge 2025
The 2025 SmartTO Innovation Challenge is a dynamic, collaborative initiative aimed at driving innovation within Ontario’s transportation and mobility sector. The challenge brings together small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, academic institutions, and industry experts to develop cutting-edge solutions to real-world mobility issues. Participants will engage in a multi-phase process, starting with open ideation and progressing through the selection of a key challenge statement. Teams of startups and SMEs will then compete by submitting their innovative solutions. The competition will culminate in a Demo Day event on March 26, 2025, where the final winner will be announced.
We are inviting industry experts, academia, companies and partners to engage in open ideation to identify critical transportation and mobility challenges in Ontario, until January 31st. This is an exciting opportunity to voice your thoughts, brainstorm ideas with others, and innovate together to transform the future of mobility and transportation!
Key Dates:
- Ideation Phase: Jan 9 – Jan 31, 2025
- Submit ideas in six different focus areas
- Provide feedback, collaborate, and refine challenge statement
- Solution Submission Window: Feb 10 – Mar 7, 2025
- SMEs and startups submit their comprehensive solutions
- Demo Day Event: Mar 26, 2025
- Invitation only event hosted at The Well, Toronto
- Winners announced, networking
Learn more and participate in the SmartTO Innovation Challenge here!
SmartTO News and Updates:
THE BUS OF THE FUTURE
The Bus of the Future is a collaborative applied research project between Centennial College, TTC, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International and ATU Local 113 as part of the Bus Design Innovation Program. Building on best practices from transit agencies globally, the program aims to use a Safety-by-Design approach to develop and implement new designs for public transportation that provide a healthier working environment for bus operators and improves the safety and security of passengers, pedestrians and operators. Designs include improved operator barriers to protect from assaults, new ventilation systems to improve air quality and health, upgraded vision systems to improve operation safety and reduce blind spots, and more.
Bus of the Future News and Updates:
Local 113-Toronto, ON, ATU International and TTC Team Up on New Bus Design Innovation Program
Work with us
Centennial Innovates in Transportation – 1-Pager Opportunity Overview
Our Transportation Innovation Capabilities – Infographic
What Our Student Researchers Say:
"This was a good experience because it provided an environment that I could actually face after college."
– Suhaan Vyas
"[This experience] has given me practical exposure, and really helped me polish my leadership skills [to] become a successful project manager in the future."
– Manav Jitendrakumar
"I didn’t have experience working in Canada before so it was great to have this first-hand experience, and not just be studying or working somewhere unrelated. It enriched my college experience [...] and I can leverage that as I am starting to look for a career."
– Gustavo de Souza