Ivey awards $8.1 million for Alabama research projects

Governor Kay Ivey has awarded $8.1 million in state grants for 20 research and development projects at five Alabama institutions, supporting work ranging from cancer research and agricultural biotechnology to critical mineral recovery and construction technology.

The grants will support research with potential applications in Alabama industries and help expand employment opportunities, according to an announcement Wednesday from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

The Alabama Innovation Act of 2019 established the Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund and a legislative oversight committee to monitor the program and its grant awards. The committee includes legislative leaders or their designees and the ADECA director or a designee.

The program encourages new and expanded research in Alabama, emphasizing projects that benefit businesses, create jobs and improve products and services available to residents. ADECA administers the program and evaluates proposals through a competitive grant process. Applicants must provide matching funds equal to 50 percent of the total project cost.

The latest awards continue the state’s effort to connect research at universities and specialized institutions with commercial and industrial applications. In October 2025, Ivey awarded $4.7 million through the program for projects involving agricultural biotechnology, forest protection, water treatment, critical mineral recovery and food production.

“From cleaner air and water to more efficient construction techniques, these research projects seek novel solutions to familiar problems,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these funds for research with the potential to have a significant positive impact in Alabama and beyond.”

The University of Alabama received funding for 11 projects, including efforts to recover critical minerals from coal ash, develop sensors to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, and improve the use of 3D printing in construction and manufacturing.

A $506,840 grant will support research into recovering scandium and gallium, two critical minerals, from Alabama coal ash. Another $399,158 grant will fund the development of a portable sensor to detect PFAS, a class of persistent chemicals associated with health risks.

Other University of Alabama projects will investigate alternatives to petroleum-based materials in pharmaceutical manufacturing, develop fuel-testing methods for aircraft systems and examine ways to make buildings more energy-efficient while improving indoor air quality.

The university also received $100,000 to study ways to help low- and moderate-income households and community organizations reduce energy and water expenses through efficiency improvements, solar power and battery storage.

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville received three awards totaling more than $2 million. The projects will support cancer screening and treatment research, the use of artificial intelligence to analyze biological data and methods to accelerate the production of genetically uniform plants for agriculture.

Auburn University received three grants focused on artificial intelligence and industrial sustainability. A $600,000 award will support the development of an AI platform to identify risks associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and improve resilience among law enforcement officers, first responders and veterans. Other projects will explore ways to make AI tools easier to use and convert emissions from paper mills and wastewater aquaculture facilities into high-protein fish feed.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville received $2 million for two projects. One will examine ways to expand digital engineering and develop a 3D model to train people in Alabama’s aerospace and engineering industries. The other will study the role of molecular biology in human performance.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham received $79,482 to research connections between building components inspired by ligaments and the spine. The project aims to improve the strength and resistance of structural components such as beams, columns and roofs.

“These institutions have a record of producing important innovations affecting a number of key industries,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Kay Ivey in support of these cutting-edge efforts in Alabama.”

The grants support research at stages ranging from exploring potential applications to developing and testing new technologies.