Where breakthroughs begin.
Finding answers in Alabama.
Nearly 18,000 people work in Alabama’s flourishing bioscience industry, and their work is changing the quality of life itself. The University of Alabama in Birmingham ranks in the top 1% of institutions in NIH funding, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is unlocking the mysteries of diseases with genomic research, and Birmingham-based Southern Research is leading the way in drug discovery and development. Plus, with new private bioscience sector investments topping $280 million since 2021, scientists in Alabama have the support they need to make the next great discovery. Alabama is creating revolutionary solutions to life’s great questions.
780
bioscience companies
576
bioscience patents awarded
(2016-2019)
$7.3B
annual economic impact
18k
sector employees
Research & development
Alabama bioscientists aren’t just providing solutions to the problems we face today, they’re also researching and making discoveries that improve lives beyond what we can imagine. Our state is home to several companies and organizations working on breakthroughs that will be felt around the world.
Biomaterials manufacturing
Scientific discoveries require the right tools, and Alabama’s leading biomaterials manufacturing companies are making products and devices that change how we administer medicine for the better. Here, bioscience and specialized manufacturing are coming together to further medical breakthroughs.
Home to progress.
Groundbreaking research is happening right here in Alabama. Huntsville is home to Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. Over 300 companies, more than 26,000 employees, and 13,500 students spend their days at CRP, collaborating to bring progress from Huntsville to the rest of the world.
Cracking the code.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are advancing computational biology and personalized medicine, improving treatments and outcomes for deadly diseases. At HudsonAlpha, scientists have made discoveries that unlock the mysteries of ALS, cancer, and more. And Southern Research has discovered seven FDA-approved medicines used in cancer treatments. The health of the future is in Alabama’s hands.
Harvesting change.
In Alabama, we’re future-proofing the world’s food supply. By developing genomic tools, researchers at the HudsonAlpha Center for Plant Science and Sustainable Agriculture are exploring ways to replace bad plant genes with better ones. With these plant biotech tools, they’ll be able to create improved crops, maximize fuel production from plant biomass, reduce fertilizer use, and eliminate fungicides to increase yields.
Made of a different material.
Auburn’s SiO2 Materials Science spent a decade developing a unique vaccine vial with a microscopic glass coating perfect for biological drugs and vaccines. This innovation helped Moderna distribute its groundbreaking COVID vaccine. In Birmingham, Evonik is producing organic polymers for medical devices and non-oral drugs that naturally dissolve within your body over time, dramatically altering the future of medicine.
Latest Bioscience News
Commerce trade team leads Alabama mission to MEDICA in Germany
DÜSSELDORF, Germany — The Global Business team from the Alabama Department of Commerce is leading a delegation of Alabama small and mid-sized businesses at this week’s MEDICA 2024, the world’s largest event for the medical industry, being held in Germany.
4 weeks ago
Why Alabama?
You can make it here in Alabama.
Alabama is a state of makers, builders, and doers. So, whatever you make or build, you can do it in Alabama. We’re a launching point for aerospace, aviation, and defense. A leader in automotive production. A home for startups, technology, and research breakthroughs. And drawing on our manufacturing roots, we’re helping to usher in the industrial evolution in America.
Logistics & Infrastructure
Alabama’s prime location in the South and on the Gulf Coast grants it nearly unlimited access to the national and international markets. Alabama sits within a one day drive to all of the South and its nearly 150M residents.
Workforce & Training
Alabama’s strong workforce is a major attraction for businesses worldwide, driven by our commitment to skill development. Industry leaders like Mercedes-Benz and Airbus have benefited from on-site training programs in partnership with state workforce agencies; and our state’s focus on education and industrial training through colleges further strengthens Alabama’s appeal to businesses.
Taxes & Incentives
Alabama’s business approach is very inviting, offering global companies incentives, tax benefits, a skilled workforce, and excellent real estate options. Low taxes, affordable utilities, and a reasonable cost of living boost profits, and the state ensure ideal site locations and attractive incentives for long-term success in Alabama.
Project Assistance
Alabama’s Business Development Division actively seeks corporate investors, promotes global expansion for local companies, supports small businesses, and collaborates with various stakeholders for comprehensive investor support. The state also engages with communities to enhance competitiveness and contribute significantly to Alabama’s economic growth strategy, making the state attractive to investors, businesses, and job seekers.