MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $8.1 million in grants for 20 research and development projects at five Alabama institutions, supporting work ranging from cancer screening and artificial intelligence to construction technology and the recovery of critical minerals.
The awards, announced Wednesday, will fund projects at four universities and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, which administers the grants, said the research is intended to encourage innovation and create employment opportunities.
“From cleaner air and water to more efficient construction techniques, these research projects seek novel solutions to familiar problems,” Ivey said in the department’s announcement. “I am pleased to award these funds for research with the potential to have a significant positive impact in Alabama and beyond.”
The money comes through the Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund, established under the Alabama Innovation Act in 2019. The program supports research and development within the state with the goal of increasing employment opportunities and the products and services available to Alabama residents.
The University of Alabama received funding for 11 projects, the most among the recipients. Its awards include $506,840 to develop technology to recover scandium and gallium from Alabama coal ash and $500,000 for research involving the recovery of aluminum and rare earth elements. The latter project also aims to convert iron into a water-treatment product and reuse remaining material in cement and concrete.
Another $399,158 will support development of a portable sensor intended to quickly detect PFAS, long-lasting chemicals that carry health risks, according to the department. A separate $269,363 award will fund research into how building design, ventilation, filtration and heating and cooling systems affect energy use and indoor air quality in Alabama’s climate.
Other University of Alabama grants include $402,363 to develop and test plant-based materials for drug delivery systems known as lipid nanoparticles and $100,000 to study ways to reduce energy and water costs for low- and moderate-income households and community organizations. Researchers will examine energy efficiency, solar power and battery storage as part of the household-cost project.
The university also received awards for automated excavation, aircraft fuel testing, aluminum manufacturing and recycling, and two projects involving 3D concrete printing. One of the concrete-printing projects will address the need for affordable, energy-efficient and storm-resistant housing.
HudsonAlpha received three grants, including $763,470 for cancer research aimed at developing screening tools and treatments. Another $524,488 will support a shared digital storage system that uses artificial intelligence to help Alabama organizations manage biological information and conduct large-scale genetic analysis. The institute also received $798,233 for research intended to accelerate the production of genetically uniform plants for agriculture.
Auburn University received three awards, led by $600,000 to develop an artificial intelligence platform to help identify risks for post-traumatic stress disorder and improve resilience. The project also includes training and knowledge-sharing for law enforcement officers, first responders and veterans.
Auburn’s other grants include $277,240 to make artificial intelligence easier to use without specialized expertise and $387,658 to research using microalgae to convert emissions from Alabama paper mills and wastewater aquaculture facilities into high-protein fish feed.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville received the largest individual award, $1.5 million, for a project to expand digital engineering and create a 3D model for teaching people in Alabama’s aerospace and engineering industries. It also received $500,000 to study the role of molecular biology in human performance.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham received $79,482 to develop technology inspired by the body’s ligaments and spine. The research aims to improve the strength and resistance of building connections, including those involving beams, columns and roofs.
“These institutions have a record of producing important innovations affecting a number of key industries,” department Director Kenneth Boswell said in the announcement. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Kay Ivey in support of these cutting-edge efforts in Alabama.”