Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $8.1 million in grants to support 20 research and development projects at five Alabama institutions, funding efforts aimed at advancing medicine, agriculture, construction and other industries.

The grants, awarded through the Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund, are intended to encourage innovation, address industry challenges and create employment opportunities across the state, a news release said.

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

The projects will be conducted at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Among the funded efforts are cancer screening and treatment research, artificial intelligence applications, alternative fuel development, advanced construction materials and technologies to recover valuable minerals from coal ash.

The largest individual awards include $1.5 million to the University of Alabama in Huntsville to expand digital engineering and develop a 3D educational model for Alabama's aerospace and engineering industries. HudsonAlpha received $798,233 for research to accelerate the production of genetically uniform plants for agriculture while the University of Alabama received $506,840 to develop technology for recovering critical minerals, including scandium and gallium, from coal ash.

Other projects include a $500,000 University of Alabama effort to recover aluminum and rare earth elements through recycling and convert other recovered materials into water-treatment products and cement. Auburn University received $600,000 to develop an artificial intelligence platform to identify risks associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and improve resilience among law enforcement officers, first responders and veterans.

The University of Alabama also received funding for research involving 3D concrete printing, aircraft fuel testing, energy-efficient housing, indoor air quality and pharmaceutical drug delivery systems.

At HudsonAlpha, additional grants will support cancer research and the development of a shared digital storage system using artificial intelligence to help Alabama organizations manage biological information and conduct large-scale genetic analysis.

The Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Fund was established by the Alabama Legislature in 2019 as part of the Alabama Innovation Act. Ivey signed the legislation into law. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the grant program.

“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.”