A HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology-led partnership has been selected for a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award that could bring up to $160 million over the next decade to help transform rural economies across Alabama and Tennessee through biotechnology, agriculture and advanced manufacturing.

The initiative, known as the BRIDGES Engine, will receive an initial $15 million, with the opportunity to earn additional funding over 10 years based on performance.

The partnership includes HudsonAlpha, the University of Tennessee, Auburn University, AGgrow Tech LLC and Volkswagen Group of America. The BRIDGES Engine was one of only 12 teams selected from 300 applicants nationwide, representing projects across 20 states.

The initiative is designed to create new markets for farmers by expanding the use of perennial grasses such as switchgrass and Miscanthus as feedstocks for automotive, construction and packaging products while strengthening rural supply chains and creating manufacturing jobs.

“We are honored that the National Science Foundation has chosen to support the BRIDGES Engine as a model for regional innovation and economic transformation,” said Neil Lamb, PhD, HudsonAlpha President. “Together with our partners across Alabama, Tennessee, and beyond, we’re proving that investment in use-inspired science and technology can drive both prosperity and purpose, shaping a stronger, more resilient future for our region and our nation.”

According to project leaders, the initiative aims to:

• Expand perennial fiber crop cultivation to 50,000 acres, generating $30 million annually in farm income.
• Attract more than $2 billion in private investment to rural communities.
• Create more than 4,000 manufacturing and supply chain jobs, representing $280 million in annual wages.
• Train and engage more than 10,000 people for careers in agriculture, manufacturing and technical fields.

BRIDGES CEO Sam Jackson said the project is designed to create long-term economic opportunities throughout the region.

“This award shows that NSF recognizes the strength of the plans our team has developed that will drive lasting economic development across rural Alabama and Tennessee,” Jackson said. “I am excited to begin the real work with our 85 partners to create new markets for farmers, create new manufacturing jobs, and provide skills training to workers in rural communities across the region.”

HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigators Jeremy Schmutz and Kankshita Swaminathan, PhD, will lead efforts to improve the genetics and sustainable production of the project’s key perennial crops.

The initiative brings together a broad coalition of 42 industry partners, 18 academic institutions, 10 commercialization partners and 15 stakeholder organizations to build what organizers describe as a regional bioeconomy centered on rural communities.

“This initiative depends on collaboration,” Jackson said. “It’s a bridge between science and industry, education and opportunity, research and real-world impact.”

The BRIDGES Engine is part of the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program, which seeks to establish regional technology hubs that strengthen U.S. competitiveness in emerging industries.

“NSF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America’s innovation infrastructure for decades to come,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of NSF director. “The NSF BRIDGES Engine will support rural communities by building talent, stimulating economic growth, and strengthening markets for farmers across the Southeastern U.S.”

The award adds another major federal research investment to Huntsville’s growing biotechnology sector while positioning North Alabama as a leader in agricultural genomics and biobased manufacturing. HudsonAlpha officials said the project builds on the institute’s longstanding model of combining genomic research with public-private partnerships to accelerate economic development across the region.

Got a tip for OTR? Send your tip to [email protected] with related photo/video, your name, phone number, and e-mail address.