Toronto, Ontario, November 4, 2025 – Illuminex AI Inc., an Ontario-based innovator of Sensor- Fusion AI soluAons, proudly announces its strategic collaboraAon with the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Vehicle InnovaAon Network (OVIN) to expand the development of its InspectEx™ AI-powered inspection plaNorm. Partnering with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), this initiative marks a major step forward in improving the safety, efficiency, and resilience of both airfield and road infrastructure in the context of Ontario’s growing smart mobility ecosystem.
“By investing in homegrown innovation and helping local companies compete in global markets, Ontario is protecting the future of our automotive sector and ensuring the cars of the future are made in Ontario, by Ontario workers,” said Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, our government is strengthening our domes*c supply chain, driving competitiveness and resilience, and creating good-paying jobs that will withstand this storm of tariffs and economic uncertainty.”
Building on the success of the InspectEx™ sensor-fusion AI platform and FODAI, this project focuses on developing solutions to detect and assess changes in airfield and roadway surface conditions through the development of two new models: Surface AI™ (asphalt and concrete condition analysis) and Marking AI™ (pavement marking recognition and validation). These innovations integrate multi-sensor inputs including visual spectrum cameras, LiDAR, GPS, and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to support inspectors and vehicle-based operations teams in identifying and geo-locating safety-critical issues. Designed for deployment on a wide range of platforms including ground vehicles, drones, and fixed locations, the InspectEx™ platform brings flexibility to diverse operational environments. Its real-time edge AI models detect and geo-locate debris, cracks, worn markings, and other surface anomalies. Findings are automatically logged and transmitted to the InspectEx™ Cloud, enabling centralized data aggregation, analysis, and API-based integration with existing asset management and maintenance systems. This empowers infrastructure operators with data-driven, proactive planning tools that increase operational uptime and reduce unplanned maintenance events across both airfields and public roadways.
Through OVIN, Illuminex AI secured $981,086 in funding support from the Government of Ontario, complemented by substantial in-kind contributions from the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA), for a total project value of $2.94 Million. This investment represents a collaborative commitment to the advancement of Ontario-made smart mobility technologies and operational AI solutions that are scalable across diverse environments, from airports to the broader connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) infrastructure network.
Quotes
“Ontario is in the driver’s seat of the global automotive and mobility sector, unleashing its boundless potential to foster innovation and catalyze lasting economic growth. This critical investment by the Ontario government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network reflects Ontario’s strong commitment to fostering partnerships with global industry leaders, accelerating the growth of Ontario-made technologies, and harnessing the power of homegrown Ontario companies to create jobs and drive prosperity. Together, we ensuring that Ontario will continue to be a global automotive and mobility leader for decades to come,”
– Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN (OCI)
“Toronto Pearson is proud to be a leader in adopting technologies that enhance operational safety and efficiency. Through our partnership with Illuminex AI, we’re exploring next- generation AI solutions that have the potential to not only empower our airfield operations team, but the broader smart mobility ecosystem in Ontario.”
– Todd Browne, Associate Director of Airside OperaBons, Greater Toronto Airports Authority
“This represents a significant milestone for Illuminex AI and for Ontario’s talent development in AI driven smart mobility solutions. Our Operational AI inspection platform aims to significantly enhance safety and operational efficiencies by elevating the capabilities of humans. The collaborate spirit of this project has the potential to reshape operational efficiency and safety across built world infrastructure, starting with airfields.”
– Brian Freed, CEO, Illuminex AI
“This investment highlights the critical role our homegrown companies play in shaping the future of mobility. Through OVIN, we are proud to support ambitious, made-in-Ontario technologies that are advancing smart infrastructure, and connected vehicle solutions – accelerating commercialization and keeping Ontario at the forefront of the mobility revolution,”
– Claudia Krywiak , President & CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)
About Illuminex AI
Illuminex AI is redefining how Operational AI is deployed across airfields and roadways. Its InspectEx™ platform delivers rapid deployment of intelligent inspection applications using a unique edge-to-cloud architecture, empowering human teams with tireless, AI-driven perception and actionable insights. From Foreign Object Debris detection to road surface condition monitoring, Illuminex’s solutions improve safety, productivity, and sustainability— supporting a more connected, efficient, and resilient infrastructure landscape.
About the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in advanced automotive technology and smart mobility solutions such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies. Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies. For more information: https://www.ovinhub.ca
