The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced two new grants from the state’s Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) to AeroShield of Hyde Park and Gencores of Somerville. The grants will invest in new R&D infrastructure to boost the manufacturing of advanced materials in the state.
The state has invested over $86 million in business expansion and R&D centers in Massachusetts through M2I2, helping to promote innovation and job growth statewide, reports The Somerville Times.
AeroShield will receive a $610,000 grant to support the manufacturing of cutting-edge insulating transparent inserts for windows. Gencores will receive a $319,002 grant to support the construction of a custom facility that will develop novel foam metamaterials for cost-and weight-sensitive industries, such as automotive and wind energy, the publication reports.
“We are thrilled to support businesses that drive innovation and job creation,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “The Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) bridges the gap between innovation and commercialization across all sectors. These grants will further support manufacturers in creating cutting-edge eco-conscious materials, propelling our state’s economy forward.”
“These M2I2 grants highlight the state’s global leadership in advanced materials, with innovative companies located across the state,” said Christine Nolan, Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech (CAM), which manages the M2I2 program. “Both AeroShield and Gencores bring a strong network of organizations that have backed their proposals, developing a collaborative ecosystem to help support their growth over the coming years. Investing in this R&D infrastructure will not only help drive job growth in Greater Boston, but also support companies focused on the clean tech space.”
The M2I2 program supports projects that align with one of 14 Manufacturing USA Institutes, a national network of facilities that help U.S advanced manufacturers scale their operations. AeroShield’s project is relevant to the work of The ARM Institute and RAPID Manufacturing Institute, while Gencores’s project is relevant to the work of The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and RAPID Manufacturing Institute.
“This grant plays a major role in supporting AeroShield’s manufacturing expansion to make the next generation of energy-efficient windows,”said AeroShield’s CEO, Dr. Elise Strobach. “Massachusetts is a hub for climate technology and innovation, and we are incredibly excited about the opportunity to expand our presence in the Commonwealth, add new deep-tech and manufacturing jobs, and partner with local universities. We are grateful for the strong support of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s M2I2 program, and our investors, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and MassVentures, as we expand grow the company.”
“Achieving net-zero across hard-to-decarbonize industries hinges on material performance, affordability, availability, and recyclability,” said Dr. Jules Theiry, Founder and CEO of Gencores.“The state’s longstanding vision of advancing high-impact materials and manufacturing technologies aligns seamlessly with our goals; we could not be happier to partner with Christine Nolan, Farhad Vazegoo and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s team under this Healey-Driscoll Administration award to expedite the qualification and deployment of Gencores’ technology. We extend our gratitude to Instron Mechanical Testing Systems for their invaluable support in producing and delivering our custom equipment.”
M2I2-funded projects have impacted over 170 companies and leveraged over $320 million from outside sources, helping boost the flow of investment in the state and creating over 1000 jobs in Massachusetts.