We are thrilled to share with you the most recent announcements and developments in the Windsor-Essex region for the month of September. See below to read our top highlights.
Top employers connected with hundreds of job seekers at the Windsor-Essex Career Fair
Invest WindsorEssex (IWE), in partnership with the Windsor Regional Employment Network, WEtech Alliance and Workforce WindsorEssex hosted the Windsor-Essex Career Fair on Sept. 11, 2024, at the WFCU Centre. This free-to-attend career fair was a great success, having been supported through the Government of Canada and Employment Ontario. Over 30+ top regional employers across various industry sectors attended, including NextStar Energy, Nature Fresh Farms, Seasons Retirement Communities and Rosati Construction Inc., to help bridge the gap between local employers and job seekers. Hundreds of job seekers with varied skills and experience levels lined up around the WFCU Centre, eager to engage and network in person with an opportunity to present their resumes.
With billions of dollars in recent investment across Windsor-Essex and available job postings on the rise, the Windsor-Essex Career Fair is part of the regional strategy to promote workforce development and talent attraction in Windsor-Essex. Therefore, the time is now to have a strategy and tools in place to ensure an adequate and sustainable workforce to not only accommodate emerging supply chains but also to ensure existing companies have the required talent to operate at full capacity.
“Bringing together thousands of job seekers and top regional employers, the Windsor-Essex Career Fair exemplifies our commitment to fostering local talent and driving economic growth. As Windsor-Essex continues to thrive with new investments and expanding industries, events like these are crucial in matching the right talent with emerging opportunities and ensuring our workforce is ready to meet the demands of the future.” – Joe Goncalves, Interim CEO and Vice President Investment Attraction & Strategic Initiatives, Invest WindsorEssex
Invest WindsorEssex, together with community partners, continues to drive initiatives that will support and ensure companies have the talent they need to build their workforces and that individuals have the opportunity to contribute to the growing economy in Windsor-Essex. READ MORE
NEO Battery Materials and University of Windsor partner to advance novel battery technologies
NEO Battery Materials Ltd., a low-cost silicon anode materials developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Windsor to establish a strategic partnership focused on advancing new battery and energy storage technologies in Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. This partnership will combine the strengths of industry and academia to create commercialization pathways for innovations, as well as for research and development. Through intellectual property (IP), new market solutions can be developed to address the evolving needs of the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors. This joint effort will also explore work opportunities to provide students with practical experience and create a pipeline of highly qualified personnel to fulfill the growing workforce needs of the EV sector.
Invest WindsorEssex’s Investment Attraction team played a pivotal role in supporting Neo Battery Materials’ expansion efforts into North America. Our team introduced the company to key stakeholders across all levels of government, providing targeted guidance for their entry into Windsor-Essex. In addition to providing essential government program information, IWE helped facilitate a connection between Neo Battery Materials and the University of Windsor. This collaboration, formalized by the MOU, represents an important milestone in advancing research efforts in the EV battery industry, aligning Neo Battery Materials’ expertise with both academic and industrial resources.
Our team continues to deliver comprehensive supports needed for companies seeking to expand and innovate in the region, with many new companies setting Windsor-Essex as their prime destination to establish themselves and achieve growth. READ MORE
Future Mobility Challenge brings educational value to young minds
The Future Mobility Challenge is back, offering an exciting educational opportunity for students to be part of the future of mobility and the evolving transportation landscape. These esteemed challenges are tailored to various age groups at all skill levels. They will provide a platform for students to think creatively about how to innovate the transportation systems of the future. It seeks to spark their interest and encourage active participation, empowering students to reimagine and shape what’s possible. Participants will compete to win cash prizes, all while exploring innovative solutions to design a future mode of transportation.
Important dates:
Challenge launched: Sept. 9, 2024
Submission deadline: Nov. 22, 2024, 11:45 p.m.
This event is organized by IWE’s Windsor Essex Regional Technology Development Site (WE RTDS) in collaboration with WEtech Alliance and is generously funded by the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Learn more and submit challenges.
Women Driven Mobility YQG Breakfast 2024
Join us on Oct. 17 and get inspired at the third Annual Women Driven Mobility YQG Breakfast, exploring the theme, “Innovative Urban Transportation: Smart Vehicles and Sustainable Cities.” Mobility is on the rise as one of the hottest sectors, with new innovative solutions ready to prepare for the next wave of change. This upcoming event provides females with a platform to network and gain valuable insights into cutting-edge projects that will empower future female leaders in the industry.
This event is proudly sponsored by Invest WindsorEssex and hosted by WEtech Alliance, Build a Dream, and partners. A funded initiative supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and the Government of Canada. REGISTER
Battery boom ignites auto sector
Electrification is the future and on the rise in Windsor-Essex, where a battery boom in Canada’s automobility capital is igniting further growth in next-generation vehicle production. NextStar Energy’s joint venture electric vehicle (EV) battery plant between Stellantis N.V. and LG Energy Solution has brought hope to the auto sector. Its estimated 5-billion project is part of a line of investments supported by the federal and provincial governments to strengthen the emerging EV battery supply chain. Since, NextStar Energy announced plans to build in Windsor, over $100-million in investments have followed, helping to support the EV supply chain. Such a spin-off includes manufacturers producing battery trays, battery insulation, cell sheets and a battery research and development facility. This new venture has been providing job opportunities across the region, and despite the ups and downs over the decades, will play a pivotal role in the region’s economic growth and continued success of the auto sector. According to the Conference Board of Canada, Windsor’s economy is projected to grow 2.9 per cent between 2025 and 2028, one of the highest rates in Canada. READ MORE
The Ford government recently announced an additional $3 million to the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to develop programs to train approximately 1,500 auto sector workers in Windsor-Essex and across the province, with a focus on electric vehicle and battery development. READ MORE
Optimotive secures $2-million funding to launch next-gen outdoor robots, redefining automation
Optimotive, a Windsor-based company specializing in robotics and automation, has raised $2-million US in new investor funding to expand its operations and further help develop two of its latest products —MULE and SCRUBBLES. Their goal is to ensure automation is accessible in any environment, regardless of conditions or location. This funding will drive the company forward, significantly impacting how various industries such as construction, mining, and oil and gas approach automation. Through the minimization of dangerous or repetitive tasks, these robots will help set new standards in safety and efficiency, playing a vital role in the daily operations in challenging outdoor environments. MULE, designed for streamlining onsite material handling, and SCRUBBLES, engineered to revolutionize site cleanup, are set to elevate outdoor industrial automation to new standards. OVIN Windsor-Essex Regional Technology Development Site (WE RTDS) is proud to have supported their journey through our digital twinning and WE RTDS programming. READ MORE