FAQ

Critical Industrial Technologies (CIT) initiative is designed to prepare Ontario industry for the future. Delivered by the Ontario Centre of Innovation on behalf of the Province of Ontario, CIT is the ultimate critical technology ecosystem hub for Ontario businesses.

CIT offers a curated collection of 5 programs to support SMEs in adopting and integrating critical technology hat will transform their business. These programs support R&D, accelerated commercialization, and talent development for Ontario SMEs to achieve maximal impact.

In addition to this, CIT also supports ecosystem navigation, stakeholder partnerships, and education to promote the adoption and integration of critical technologies.

The areas of focus for the CIT initiative are:

Four key sectors
• Mining
• Advanced Manufacturing (non-auto)
• Agri-Food
• Construction

Six critical technology areas
• 5G & advanced networks
• AI
• Blockchain
• Robotics
• Cybersecurity
• Quantum

The CIT initiative engages partners across the innovation ecosystem. See below for CIT opportunities. Join us!

Each conversation starts with a conversation with an OCI Business Development Manager or CIT Sector Manager. They assess SME eligibility and program fit before you start an application. They can also support the development of your application prior to submission.
Contact a Business Development Manager through the OCI Directory or a CIT Sector Manager.

CIT classifies a company with fewer than 500 staff as an SME (maximum 499 employees)

Each CIT program has its own applicant specifications, so review each program’s details toconfirm each criterion is met before applying.
The minimum applicant criteria for all CIT programs are:
• Small/Medium Enterprise (less than 500 employees)
• For-profit organization
• Registered operations in Ontario
• Adoption of Critical Technologies part of roadmap
Please see the full eligibility requirements for each program for complete details

CIT challenge statements are launched through the Sector Adoption program. Each challenge identifies a widespread, critical issue in at least one of the four core CIT sectors: Advanced Manufacturing(non-auto), Agri-Food, Construction, or Mining.
The challenge offers an opportunity for company consortiums to collaborate for up to a year with OCI support to develop a solution. Upon completion, the selected projects should demonstrate potential for widespread adoption that addresses the challenge statement in a meaningful way.
The solution must leverage at least one of the named CIT critical technologies: 5G and Advanced Networks, AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and/or Robotics.

CIT welcomes input to inform future challenge statements but the official challenge is launched by OCI.
Each challenge statement is created through extensive consultation from industry stakeholders including industry leaders, associations, government, businesses, and academia.

Technology Development Sites (Dev Sites) are where SMEs can come to develop, test, and showcase their critical technology products and services.
Dev Sites unlock an operational environment that reflects target markets for SMEs to validate their solutions, accelerating their go-to-market timeline within CIT core sectors.
Critical technologies include: 5G and Advanced Networks, AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Robotics.

Technology Development Sites are sourced through launched Calls for Applications. Contact cit@oc-innovation.ca with questions.

There are two ways for Small-and-Medium-Sized-Enterprises (SMEs) to access a Technology Development Site:
• CIT Technology Access Program
• CIT Development and Commercialization Program
Contact an OCI Business Development Manager or CIT Sector Manager to inquire about the above programs.