Alabama Innovation Commission announces partnership with Hoover Institution

The Alabama Innovation Commission on Tuesday announced a partnership with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University to further promote innovation and economic growth in Alabama.

The commission will collaborate with the Hoover Institution to deploy unique, world-class intellectual resources towards recommending practical and timely applications.

“The Hoover Institution is proud to partner with the Alabama Innovation Commission to help develop strategies that will create more economic opportunities for the state,” said Condoleezza Rice, the director of the Hoover Institution, former United States secretary of state and Alabama Innovation Commission Advisory Council member. “Through this partnership, we will be able to bring our research and expertise to identify strategies that maximize the state’s strengths and assets.”

The commission’s collaboration with the Hoover Institution will address the starting, recruitment and retention of companies and jobs, the development of innovation hubs and the commercialization of startups.

Within these focus areas, they will identify ways to improve education and skills-based learning and leverage the state’s successes in a way that creates prosperity for all Alabamians.

“I am confident that the work that the Alabama Innovation Commission and the Hoover Institution will produce through this partnership will have a profound impact on the future economic trajectory of our state,” said State Rep. Bill Poole, chair of the Alabama Innovation Commission. “Starting with the leadership of Governor Kay Ivey and the Commission’s efforts, we must all work together on initiatives like this to create smart solutions that will continue to make Alabama an attractive state for business investment and job creation. Further, it is essential to our economic future that our students and citizens have career pathways right here in Alabama to the jobs of the future. In my opinion, the work of this Commission, in collaboration with the Hoover Institution, presents an important and critical opportunity to enhance our state’s competitive position in terms of these economic sectors.”

“The continued momentum resulting from the Hoover Institution partnership is a prime example of the creative ideas and initiatives already generated by the Commission,” said State Sen. Greg Reed, vice-chairman of the Alabama Innovation Commission. “While Alabama has a strong foundation of existing industries, innovation extends to all sectors of the economy where Alabama has traditionally been a leader including advanced manufacturing. These intentional collaboration efforts will further elevate our state as a driving force of innovation.”

“This partnership with the Hoover Institution will help accelerate our state’s focus on entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Zeke Smith, Alabama Power executive vice president of external affairs and president of the Alabama Innovation Commission Advisory Council. “Developing strategic partnerships and leveraging outside investments has proven to be a successful approach in building a policy portfolio and determining best practices. We look forward to working with the Hoover Institution to identify ways we can foster growth and strengthen our state.”

Founded in 1919, the Hoover Institution, within Stanford University, is a public policy research center promoting the principles of individual, economic and political freedom.

The Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all mankind.

The Hoover Institution’s fellows, staff and experts will also serve as a resource in helping develop policy recommendations by sharing insights on specific economic topics and policies related to the commission’s goals.

Gov. Kay Ivey established the Alabama Innovation Commission in July 2020. The 15-member commission is the state’s first statewide commission focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.