Research Commercialization

Innovation and entrepreneurship are pivotal for meeting the global challenges of a dynamic era. Through partnerships with UAB schools, colleges, and the local business community, the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship works to increase research commercialization opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and businesses by launching sustainable startups with disruptive technologies. To-date, UAB has facilitated the issue of more than 600 U.S. patents and assisted with the creation of more than 75 companies based on UAB technologies with a combined startup valuation of more than $4.5 billion.

• UAB’s annual economic impact: $7.15 billion
• UAB’s research team includes: 1,209 active, externally funded investigators
• UAB’s licensing income in FY2020 from UAB research: $4.52 million
• UAB’s new Proton Therapy Center is one of 36 in the U.S. and the first in Alabama.
• The Technology Innovation Center, a new home for UAB’s Cheaha supercomputer and IT services, is scheduled to open in 2021.
• Research awards at UAB reached a record $638 million in 2020.•An $18 million increase in NIH support from FY2019 to FY2020, $358 million to $376 million•UAB is one of 7 inaugural NIH-designated Centers for AIDS research.