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May 2025

Invest Durham and our local partners spent an invaluable week at HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s largest industrial technology trade fair, connecting Durham Region’s innovation community with like-minded entrepreneurs across the globe.

Highlights from our week at HANNOVER MESSE: 

• The Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) announced Project Arrow 2.0—the next phase of Canada’s first, original, full-build, zero-emission concept vehicle—will be engineered and built at Ontario Tech University and tested at the ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel bringing together more suppliers and producing a series of vehicles in Canada. Read more.

• mode40, with support from Durham College AI/HUB, officially unveiled the launch of their Manufacturing Source of Truth—an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to meet the complex needs of today’s manufacturing environments.

• Invest Durham hosted the Smart Solutions for a Common Future with the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region where attendees were able to gain industry insights from expert speakers, network with top executives from Germany and Canada, and build valuable partnerships.

• Ekstera —a Durham Region-based startup and Spark Centre client founded by an engineering team at Ontario Tech University—won the startup pitch competition at the Industrial Startup Stage and won the overall startup pitch competition for their Stirling engine technology. Learn more about their current pilot project in a case study available here.

Continue the conversation. Connect with our Invest Durham team. We are confident we will be able to support your business expansion in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. 

Tariff Response and Support

With U.S. tariffs still in place, stay in the know and keep your business prepared with Invest Durham’s tariff response web page. Updates are posted regularly. There is also a contact list and links to support and resources.

  

The Durham Economic Task Force continues to collaborate with federal, provincial and local partners to support businesses in Durham Region and keep our local economy strong.

Durham College Business Support Series

Add digital tools to your toolbox with the Durham College Business Support Series. Grow your productivity and sharpen your skills to navigate the changing global economy with this free weekly webinar series.

Learn from experts on applying artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, virtual reality and customized corporate training programs to leverage technology to increase productivity for your organization. Webinars occur every Thursday from May 8 to 29 from 1 to 1:45 p.m.

Canada's First Bachelor of Arts in AI

Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is pioneering the future of tech education. It’s launching Canada’s first Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) this fall. The program will provide technical training while also having students develop critical thinking about the use of AI and its impact on society.

A second degree in AI is also starting in September at Trent Durham GTA. The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) is designed for students who want to build the tools and systems that drive AI. Both programs offer a paid co-op option.

Durham Region will be conducting its annual Business Count to gather information from local businesses about their operations. Business Count surveyors will be visiting businesses over the summer and will be recognizable by their navy blue Region of Durham shirts and photo ID cards.

 

All businesses, including home-based businesses, non-profit organizations and farms, are encouraged to participate to help us plan our support for business services.

The Region of Durham has launched the Industrial DC Deferral Program to provide financial relief to industrial developers.

This program allows eligible developments to defer their development charges over a period of up to five years, supporting economic growth and resilience in our community during these uncertain economic times.

The program is currently available to building permit applications for industrial developments submitted on or after February 1, 2025. 

Events and Partnerships

Student Startups: Bring Entrepreneurship to Life

Get your young entrepreneur started on the journey of being their own boss. Applications close May 9 for the Summer Company program with the Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD).

The program runs from June to Labour Day (September 1) and gives students aged 15 to 29 real-world experience of building and running a small business. Successful applicants get start-up money of up to $3,000 and hands-on training, coaching and mentoring from BACD experts.  

Make this summer job one of the best they’ve ever had!

Recent Business News

Chef Matthew Simpson, co-owner of The Springwood restaurant in Whitby, and Zechariah Thomas, CEO of Oshawa’s Swift Hockey have each been named to The Peak's 2025 Emerging Leaders List. Read more about the young leaders shaping Canada's economy, culture and society.  

Durham College has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers of 2025 for the ninth consecutive year by Mediacorp Canada. Find out more about Durham College’s sustainability efforts.

Contact Us

Toll-free: 1-800-706-9857

InvestDurham.ca 



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