Italy's Genport SRL starts U.S. operation WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., April 2 (UPI) -- An Italian maker of high-energy generators and batteries for the military and emergency services is establishing a U.S. component. Genport SRL said headquarters for its North America operation will be at the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, Ind. The facility will house offices and a research facility for hybrid fuel cell development. The facility, which will cost $2 million for leasing of space and equipment, will be operational this fall, Genport SRL said. The company plans to work with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane and has plans to begin hiring additional engineers. "We chose to establish our U.S. subsidiary in West Lafayette to benefit from the tremendous environment of the Purdue Research Park and the state of Indiana," said Genport SRL Chief Executive Officer Paolo Fracas. We look forward to networking with the electro-medical and defense industries as well to establish research cooperation with Purdue University. Indiana's Economic Development Corp. offered Genport SRL as much as $225,000 in conditional tax credits for establishing the center and the Tippecanoe County Commissioners and the City of West Lafayette offered additional incentives.