Gencores does business from Boynton Yards’ Hive building in Somerville. (Photo: Boynton Yards)

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative recently awarded $319,002 to Gencores, a Somerville company working on materials for ultra-light vehicles and structures, according to a press release and MassTech representative.

Gencores is a newer player in environmental tech businesses in Somerville such as Form Energy and the Greentown Labs incubator. The company is based in The Hive at 561 Windsor St., between Union and Inman squares – The Boynton Yards building for makers that is most known for hosting Taza Chocolates’ headquarters, factory and retail store.

“The green jobs wave is happening right here in Somerville,” said state Rep. Mike Connolly, who represents a chunk of the city, in a press release announcing the grant.

MassTech is a state agency that supports the technology sector. One of its programs is the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative, through which it awards grants to help businesses set up manufacturing operations. Since 2016, MassTech has awarded more than $80 million through what it calls M2I2.

The program has a few guidelines. Applicants must commit to matching the grant and to aligning with one of the 14 institutes of Manufacturing USA, a research network. For-profit applicants must partner with a university, nonprofit organization or public entity. MassTech considers M2I2 grant applicants at least quarterly.

Gencores is using chemistry and robotics to develop metamaterials – artificial substances – that are low-cost, ultra-light and thermally resistant, according to Jake Stern, public relations manager at MassTech.

“Gencores’ material is of particular interest to the automotive and wind turbine blade manufacturing industries seeking to reduce the weight of their structures and improve the efficiency of their vehicles and systems,” the press release read.

Gencores’ founder and chief executive, Jules Thiery, said that by trying to improve vehicle and turbine efficiency, his company is helping work toward a net-zero future.

“Achieving net-zero across hard-to-decarbonize industries hinges on material performance, affordability, availability and recyclability,” Thiery said in the press release.

Gencores declined to comment further.

This post was updated Feb. 14, 2024, to correct the spelling of a name given incorrectly in a press release.