Showcasing groundbreaking advancements in smart mobility, Ottawa’s epic demonstration day, GCXpo 2024 (formerly TCXpo), was bigger and better than ever.
In partnership with the Government of Canada and event sponsors, and hosted by Invest Ottawa at their Area X.O facility, this year’s event brought together more partners from the federal government and industry to make it a success.
This year’s epic demonstration day featured over 80 live technology demos and exhibits, including autonomous shuttles, drones, farm equipment, advanced IoT solutions and more.
Attendees got an up-close look at innovations from over 25 diverse sectors including smart mobility, agri-tech, defence and security, and environmental technology.
For the first time ever, this year’s event also included insights from industry leaders and experts from around the world through keynote speakers and panel discussions on the CAV Canada Stage at GCXpo.
A Catalyst for Innovation, Growth, and Connections
While GCXpo was an exciting look into the future of Canadian smart mobility, it was also a hub for business development and innovation.
For Canadian tech entrepreneurs, GCXpo was a great opportunity to connect with over 1,600 registrants from industry, government, academia, and venture capital. The event provided entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their products, pitch to investors, meet potential customers, and develop partnerships that could elevate their innovations to the next level.
Innovators appreciated the event as an opportunity to come together as a sector benefiting from the event’s unique delivery model.
Masood Yarmand, co-founder of ePowerd by YARMAND, was thankful for the unique chance the expo provides to showcase new robotics and battery-powered technologies to an engaged audience. Similarly, Philip Reece, CEO of InDro Robotics, noted the significance of the expo in driving economic growth through smart tech.
These sentiments were echoed by Brendan McGann, Head of Customer Success for Plantaform, a return demonstrator at the event, who praised GCXpo for advancing smart agricultural technologies that are reshaping sustainable food production globally.
“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 for Plantaform
Driving Economic Growth and Global Impact
GCXpo plays an important role in bolstering Canada’s leadership in the global smart mobility market which is projected to reach $194 billion USD by 2032.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry noted that “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 was 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.”
Comments that were echoed by the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
“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,” said Minister MacAulay.
With its vibrant tech ecosystem, Ottawa is the perfect backdrop for GCXpo, giving Canadian innovators national and international exposure. Area X.O’s recent designation as a NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Test Centre, underscores its credibility in nurturing ideas into market-ready solutions.
This year, the spotlight also shone on smart city infrastructure companies, a tech community supported by the work Area X.O has done in collaboration with the City of Ottawa and industry partners to develop real-world testing for emerging smart city technologies.
Looking Ahead
As GCXpo continues to grow, so does its potential to drive more opportunity for innovation, collaboration, business development and economic growth as well as societal well-being, safety and sustainability.
The key takeaway? The future of smart mobility is bright, and Canada is at the forefront of this transformative journey. In the journey towards a smarter, more connected future, GCXpo will continue to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and collaboration for our region and the country as a whole.
As we look to GCXpo 2025, we want to hear from you! Whether you are an industry stakeholder or an innovator, we invite you to reach out to us and find out how you can be a part of shaping the future of mobility together.
Interested in learning more about how Area X.O can support the development of your innovations and help you to take your product to the next level?
Visit our website for a complete list of services and use our intake form to reach out and take the next step.