Ivey awards $1.3M to universities for research, innovation

(Hal Yeager/Governor's Office)

Three Alabama universities are the recipients of $1.3 million worth of grant funding, according to an announcement Wednesday by Gov. Kay Ivey.

The grants, administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), will help stimulate research and development to bolster statewide innovation efforts.

RELATED: Huntsville welcomes Auburn Research and Innovation Campus

In announcing the grants, Ivey praised the academic institutions for their commitment to impactful research and innovation.

“Often, the research and development that comes out of our universities has far-reaching and life-altering impacts across a wide array of issue areas,” said Ivey. “Alabama’s future outlook is largely dependent on our ability to find solutions to the problems of tomorrow, and I commend the students and professors for their dedication and time-consuming efforts to ensure Alabama remains the leader in innovation that it is.”

The grants were issued from the Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund, a state-funded program created in 2019 upon the signing of the Alabama Innovation Act.

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said, “ADECA is pleased to join with Governor Ivey in supporting and encouraging research and innovation at our state universities. It is amazing to see solutions arise out of challenges relating to science and technology and other fields of study.”

The grants are:

University of Alabama at Birmingham

• $316,910 to conduct research relating to the development of a neurovascular stent for stroke treatment.

• $350,000 to conduct research involving the development of a material in dental root-canal treatment.

University of Alabama

• $399,831 to conduct research relating to development of a membrane to remove some man-made chemicals which may cause harm in humans.

• $86,314 to conduct research involving the development of ultra-high performance concrete using materials available in Alabama.

Auburn University

• $184,773 to conduct research relating to the development of an iron-based contrast agent in an angiography procedure that examines blood flow in the body.

Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

Recent in Business

Tuberville PSC

U.S. Senator and 2026 frontrunner to become the next Governor of Alabama, Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), voiced his support Wednesday for the multi-bill utility reform package moving through the Alabama Legislature. In a weekly call with in-state reporters, Tuberville urged lawmakers to pass the legislative package, saying the current Public Service Commission members who fail to […]

The Alabama House and Senate Education Trust Fund budget committee chairmen addressed the Business Council of Alabama’s Tuesday morning briefing, and discussed budget priorities, their working relationship, and the future of education in Alabama. State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) agreed that managing expectations will be a key challenge this […]