Q&A with Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO
Gov. Kay Ivey established Innovate Alabama in 2020. At the time, it was a statewide commission. Now, it is a public-private partnership with 15 full- and part-time staff and consultants.
What does innovation mean to you?
From the Saturn V rocket that put man on the moon, to a history of ag-tech and advances in biotechnology, to successful startups and inclusive accelerators, Alabama has spearheaded some of the world’s most innovative projects. Innovation is testing our limits to reach new heights, and it’s in Alabama’s DNA.
What ways has Innovate Alabama innovated and/or created meaningful impact?
Innovate Alabama is the state’s first public-private partnership encouraging entrepreneurship, advancing technology and helping innovators grow roots in the state through three core pillars:
- Talent and development: Fostering a robust, skilled workforce capable of sustaining an innovation economy.
- Lifestyle and recreation: Building an ecosystem where innovators thrive personally and professionally.
- Access to resources: Providing and connecting capital and other tools to the entrepreneurs who need them.
To date, Innovate Alabama has engaged staff and students at colleges and universities around the state to strengthen our skilled talent pipeline through professional development and community-building programs. Innovate Alabama has also played a leading role in deploying about $10 million in capital to small businesses through supplemental grants for SBIR/STTR recipients and tax credits for innovative small businesses and tech accelerators.
On the horizon, Innovate Alabama is developing a statewide ecosystem asset map, establishing an endowment to fund research for undergrad students, leverage Alabama’s outdoor recreation landscape to attract and retain talent and continue to provide capital to the state’s small businesses, startups and key ecosystem builders.
What else do you want people to know?
Innovate Alabama represents the future of our state. It is an initiative that will position Alabama for a thriving economy in 2030 and beyond. Innovate Alabama is inclusive and offers something for all Alabamians including entrepreneurs, innovators, students, the workforce, educators and industry partners.
