Ionomr Innovations, developer and manufacturer of ion-exchange membranes and polymers for the hydrogen economy, will establish a U.S. fuel cell and green hydrogen electrolysis research and development center in the Greater Rochester area. 

The company will renovate space located at Metro Business Park in the Town of Brighton, Monroe County to create a customer applications test center. The facility will generate more than 50 new jobs over the next five years. Ionomr expects to be operational at the new location by Q2 2022.

"We are pleased to establish our U.S. presence in Rochester and look forward to tapping into the local workforce to build a team here that will be a critical part of fulfilling our mandate to bring advanced materials to market faster and with global reach," said Ionomr Innovations CEO Bill Haberlin. "Ionomr’s membranes and polymers are leading the way in the clean hydrogen economy, addressing the fundamental problems that until now have limited the commercialization of fuel cells, hydrogen electrolysis and green fuels." 

Empire State Development is supporting the project with up to $1 MM through its Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. Monroe County, RG&E, and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also offering assistance with Ionomr’s growth in the region. The total project cost to update the Mero Park facility has been placed at a little more than $2.7 MM. The company had considered further expanding its Canadian operations and additionally explored other U.S. sites ultimately selecting the Monroe County location due to New York state’s support.