Innovation, Research and Renewal

 

Alabama has 16 state-sponsored and 15 independent senior college and university campuses (several with nationally acclaimed programs) and one private junior college. In addition, the Alabama College System of 26 two-year colleges and one senior college provides quality, accessible educational opportunities to meet the emerging needs of Alabama's citizens and industry.

Research Institutions

Home to seven research universities and a highly accomplished contract research organization, Alabama is on the forefront with major initiatives for flu vaccines, the National Institutes of Health Roadmap, cancer research and more. 

Alabama's research universities are:

 

Research Parks

Auburn Research Park 
Auburn Research Park is being developed on 156 acres on the Auburn University campus. The mixed-use campus will feature high-technology companies, university research facilities, business support centers, technology transfer capabilities, supporting business firms, and amenitites such as hotels and restaurants to encourage interaction between park tenants, university faculty and students, and local entrepreneurs. The park is master-planned for up to 26 buildings totaling about 950,000 square feet of office and laboratory space. It is being developed in two phases, with Phase I having sites for up to 13 buildings that will accommodate about 390,000 square feet of space. 

Cummings Research Park
Located in Huntsville, Cummings Research Park is a model for transforming research into business success. Established in 1962, it is the nation's second largest research park and the world's fourth largest, with more than 3,800 acres. More than 285 companies are housed at the park – a vibrant mixture of Fortune 500 companies, local and international high-tech enterprises, U.S. space and defense agencies, a thriving business incubator, and competitive higher-education institutions. About 500 acres are still available, featuring restricted zoning for technology industries. 


HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
The HudsonAlpha Institute is the cornerstone of a 150-acre biotech campus strategically located in Cummings Research Park. The non-profit institute is an integral part of Alabama's life sciences community. The goal of the institute is to provide a biotechnology campus with a cluster of researchers and entrepreneurs to spur, nurture and grow Alabama biotechnology firms. The institute aims to develop high-throughput research tools that focus on why disease occurs and to rapidly apply this knowledge to help patients. 


University of South Alabama (USA) Research Park

The USA Technology and Research Park, launched in 2002, is a major economic initiative of the University of South Alabama. Located on 160 acres just north of the main university campus, the park marries university resources with innovative enterprises in a single location that broadens educational experiences for students, generates new research opportunities for faculty and offers growth prospects for industry. 

Incubators

Auburn Center for Developing Industries
Auburn		 Mary Hill-Mixon Business Center
Dothan
Baldwin County Business Incubator
Robertsdale 		Montgomery Area Small Business Incubator
Montgomery
Bessemer Business Incubation System
Bessemer 		Northeast Alabama Entrepreneurial System
Anniston
Business Innovation Center
Mobile		 Ozark Technology Center for Developing Industry
Ozark
Covington County Business Development Center
Andalusia
Shoals Entrepreneurial Center
Florence
Decatur Business Incubator
Decatur 		Enterprise Business Incubator
Enterprise
Business Technology Development Center
(BizTech)
Huntsville 		Bama Technology Incubator
Alabama Innovation and Mentoring of Entrepreneurs Center
Tuscaloosa (The University of Alabama)
Innovation Depot
Birmingham		  

Southern Research Institute

Located in Birmingham, Southern Research Institute is a leading private contract organization with more than 600 scientists, technicians and support staff whose focus is on cancer, infectious and neuro/central nervous system diseases.

Southern Research discovered six U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, with four more in clinical trials. The institute offers joint discovery programs through out-licensing of clinical candidates. Services include medicinal and combinatorial chemistry, libraries and high throughput screening; molecular, structural and cellular biology; lead optimization with animal models, absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination/pharmacokinetics, and toxicology. 

 

Alabama Launchpad

Alabama Launchpad is a partnership between the state's university, business and economic development communities to encourage and support innovation and high-growth entrepreneurship in Alabama. Working together, leaders from across the state are building and mentoring a pipeline of innovative startup companies founded by Alabama entrepreneurs, which is creating jobs and preparing the state for the "new" economy. 

Alabama Launchpad is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to support and promote high-growth entrepreneurship and innovation in Alabama. The organization is a partnership among the state's research universities and the business community.

Through the business plan competition and other programs, Alabama Launchpad provides a framework for people to develop business ideas and connect to a network of experts, investors and service providers who can increase the odds of success. Alabama Launchpad provides unique opportunities to obtain startup capital, receive expert guidance, and establish working relationships within the business, academic and investment capital communities.