A $44 million federal grant will support biotechnology innovations and job creation in Birmingham

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $44 million grant to the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub that will position the city as a global leader in drug, vaccine, and diagnostics development. Funds will support the application of AI-driven biotechnology to increase diverse representation in clinical genomic data and clinical trials. This will mean more jobs and ultimately better health outcomes not only for the city and state, but potentially the world.

"This is a game changing opportunity," said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. "Birmingham was the poster child of the industrial revolution in the south. Our legacy was carved out of the iron ore that was embedded in Red Mountain. In the years that followed, we pivoted from metal to medicine with UAB. Now, we're taking our next steps toward another technological revolution. This grant opens the door to equitable AI-driven biotechnology. This will be the breakthrough that can shatter the generational cycle of poverty."

The funds for the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub, which is a consortium of partners in technology, education, medicine and more, are being awarded to Southern Research and University of Alabama at Birmingham to create artificial intelligence drug discovery platforms. Funds will also go to Alabama Community College Systems, Lawson State Community College, and The PROPEL Center to provide advanced biotechnology training and workforce development. The hub will seek to leverage artificial intelligence to shorten the drug development pipeline and deliver affordable drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to treat a global patient population and increase the efficacy of biotechnological products.

The Birmingham Biotechnology Hub is among 31 Tech Hubs designated in October 2023 by President Biden to scale up the production of critical technologies, create jobs in innovative industries, strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security, and accelerate the growth of industries of the future in regions across the United States.

Last year, the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub received a $500,000 Consortium Accelerator Award to continue implementing their strategies, including the pursuit of additional capital.

To see the U.S. Economic Development Administration release, click here.

To learn more about the Tech Hubs Program, go to TechHubs.gov.