Ottawa, ON, September 26, 2024 — Area X.O, the R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility founded and operated by Invest Ottawa, today launched GCXpo (formerly TCXpo), the third epic smart mobility demonstration day showcasing innovators and companies from Canada’s Capital and across the country driving our future.
Hosted in collaboration with the Government of Canada in the heart of Ottawa, a global tech hub with the highest tech talent concentration in North America, GCXpo will host 80 live tech demonstrations and exhibits at Area X.O. It will connect participating founders and firms with potential customers, talent, investors and markets from across Canada and around the world, helping to drive their growth and success. It is a critical opportunity. The global smart mobility market is projected to grow from USD $36.71 billion in 2023 to USD $194.13 billion by 2032.
More than 1,600 stakeholders from industry, government, academia and the investment community will descend on the $51 million outdoor R&D complex to participate in this epic demo day. It creates a unique opportunity to experience the impact of cutting-edge homegrown technologies on diverse industry sectors, the world around us and our everyday lives.
Anchored in the technology-rich smart city created by Area X.O, it will feature the InDro Drone Zone, the Ansys Robotics Zone, The Rogers Smart City Corridor, a Defence and Public Safety Zone, and the FCC Smart Farming Zone with demonstrations and exhibits ranging from connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) to drones, robotics, IoT (Internet of Things), agri-tech and smart-city solutions. These technologies span all sectors of the economy, including intelligent transportation, defence and security, public safety, smart farming, cleantech, telecommunications and environmental innovations.
Evolving from TCXpo to GCXpo, the 2024 event engages more federal government partners, promoting related technology adoption, productivity and procurement opportunities. In partnership with Transport Canada (TC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Department of National Defence (DND) IDEaS program, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada, and a host of event sponsors, GCXpo showcases and celebrates the impact of homegrown innovations targeting domestic and global markets.
GCXpo 2024 also showcases Ottawa’s thriving tech ecosystem, including a smart mobility cluster with more than 100 companies and organizations that contribute to the future of smart mobility. It will also highlight Area X.O’s new designation as a NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Test Centre. As a designated Public Research Institution under ISED’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, Area X.O is uniquely equipped to help Canadian innovators, companies and their collaborators drive the safe development, testing, commercialization and adoption of defence, public safety and security technologies.
The one-day event will feature:
- Live demonstrations of smart mobility innovations, including low-speed automated shuttles (LSAS), advanced robotics, drone flights and cutting-edge IoT solutions.
- The CAV Canada Main Stage hosted by Invest Ottawa and Kanata North Business Association with almost five hours of free content, inspiration and actionable insight; this includes keynote presentations and panels from the New York Police Department (NYPD), Nissan (Japan), entrepreneurs and companies from Canada’s Capital and across the country.
- High-profile insights and on-the-spot interview opportunities with key industry leaders, hosted by a roving reporter with live streaming to a global audience.
- Self-guided and expert-led tours of Area X.O’s technology-rich secure complex, which includes smart city infrastructure, autonomous test tracks and advanced communications systems such as 5G.
- Collaborative discussions on flagship projects focused on Safe Smart Intersections for vulnerable road users and Safe Level-Railway Crossings.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Area X.O, 1740 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K2G 3R8
Media Contact:
Media looking for more information, interviews or to attend GCXpo are welcome to contact:
Megan Shaw
Quotes:
“Fostering innovation and supporting business growth from coast to coast to coast, and on the global stage, is essential to our growth. To that end, I am pleased that, once again, ISED is a part of GCXpo, where cutting edge Canadian innovation is showcased. With initiatives such as the Innovative Solutions Canada program, Accelerated Growth Service and others, we will continue to help connect Canadian businesses with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and innovate.”
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Innovation is helping us find new solutions to the challenges facing Canadian farmers. GCXpo is a great opportunity for Canadian entrepreneurs and innovators to showcase their innovative solutions that aim to improve sustainability, competitiveness, and profitability in Canadian agriculture and keep our producers on the cutting edge.”
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“GCXpo demonstrates the growing leadership of innovators and companies from Canada’s Capital and across the country in the multi-billion-dollar global smart mobility market. It enables entrepreneurs and firms to showcase the impact of their homegrown solutions, and connect with prospective customers, investors and talent. This builds directly on our mission at Area X.O: to accelerate the commercialization of new technologies, and help get companies to market, customers and revenue faster, safely.”
Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa
“InDro Robotics is pleased to be both a sponsor and exhibitor at GCXpo. This is Canada’s premiere Smart Mobility event, bringing together leading technology companies from Canada and abroad, as well as government agencies, regulators and investors. Area X.O and Invest Ottawa understand the crucial economic role Smart technologies will play going forward, and GCXpo is an outstanding showcase of that future.”
Philip Reece, Founder and CEO, InDro Robotics
“We’re thrilled to participate in GCXpo for the second straight year, as it offers an incredible opportunity for Plantaform to showcase our advancements in smart agriculture technology. This event aligns with our mission to revolutionize sustainable indoor gardening through cutting-edge solutions. GCXpo is vital for connecting with industry leaders, innovators, and potential partners, and it highlights the growing importance of smart ag tech in shaping the future of global food production.”
Brendan McGann, Head of Customer Success, Plantaform
“The team at ePowerd by YARMAND is excited to highlight the transformative potential of robotics and battery-powered equipment for the landscaping and maintenance industry at GCXpo 2024. This event offers a unique opportunity for businesses and organizations across the National Capital Region and Canada to experience firsthand how these innovations can reshape industries, drive efficiency, and promote sustainability.”
Masood Yarmand, Co-Founder, ePowerd by YARMAND
“GCXpo 2024 is an exciting opportunity for CATTLEytics to showcase how smart agri-tech can revolutionize dairy farming. Our goal is to push the boundaries of data-driven farming, leveraging AI, connecting disparate data sources, and creating automated data modelling to help dairy producers make smarter, more profitable decisions. Bringing together innovators from across sectors highlights the collaborative future of technology, and we’re thrilled to be part of it. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders and demonstrating the power of data to drive sustainability and success in Canadian agriculture.”
Dr. Shari van de Pol, Founder & CEO, CATTLEytics Inc.
“As a startup with activities in advanced intelligent robotic system and sensor development, GCXpo 2024 is a great opportunity to make ourselves known. With many local and national players participating, we have an essential chance to network and build partnerships or market our products!”
Mojtaba Ahmadi, President, MAE Robotics Inc
“GCXpo is a terrific opportunity for Ettractive to showcase our new micromobility EV platform, “ATTO”. Getting the actual product in front of prospective clients so they can see it, touch it, drive it, is an expensive proposition. GCXpo’s unique “invitation” event provides us with a cost-effective showcase by bringing together a motivated audience. If we are able to transition conversations at the show into one or two small, initial orders for our new and unique ATTO, it would be a major success.”
Andy Stein, Development & Marketing, Ettractive
“GCXpo is a pivotal event for JPlug.io as it aligns perfectly with our mission to advance sustainable mobility solutions. Presenting at GCXpo allows us to showcase our innovative EV charging technology to a diverse audience, fostering potential collaborations and partnerships. We are excited to demonstrate how our solutions can contribute to the future of smart cities and sustainable transportation. Our goal is to connect with industry leaders and stakeholders, driving forward the adoption of clean energy technologies.”
Jorge Pantoja, CEO, JPlug.io
“We’re very excited to be participating in GCXpo for the first time this year. We are a drone tech manufacturer, so we usually have to travel much farther to be face-to-face with other companies in our industry. It’s amazing to be able to meet them on our own turf right here in Ottawa. We are especially looking forward to meeting with other movers and shakers in the robotics world and seeing how they’re innovating and pushing boundaries.”
Lauren Nagel, Growth Manager, Tyto Robotics
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. www.AreaXO.com
About Invest Ottawa
Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital Region, 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 companies, 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. www.investottawa.ca