Coastal Innovation Hub Receives Innovator of the Year Award

The University of South Alabama’s Coastal Innovation Hub has been selected by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce for its 2014 Innovator of the Year Award.

The award was presented today at a ceremony at The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa.

“The Coastal Innovation Hub is dedicated to supporting technology start‐ups in the region,” said Dr. Mark Weaver, Ben May Chair for Entrepreneurship and director of the Coastal Innovation Hub. “It serves as an integral part of the economic development goals for the University of South Alabama and the Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.”

The Coastal Innovation Hub is a 10,000-square-foot, all-in-one rental structure for technology start-ups that offers on-site consulting, professional networks, office space, wet and dry laboratories, conference rooms and other resources including access to University libraries. It opened in November 2013.

The Hub’s goal as an incubator is to help innovators – including those in biomedicine, information technology and cybersecurity – move their ideas to commercialization.

“When you think of innovation along the Coast, the University of South Alabama comes to mind. By establishing an innovation hub, the University has provided our community of entrepreneurs a place to conceive and grow their ideas and create home-grown jobs contributing to our community’s growth,” said Stephen Russell, the Chamber’s director of Business Retention and Expansion.

The award was presented by the Chamber in partnership with its Gulf Coast Technology Council. It is given each year to a company or organization working to improve economic opportunities and the quality of life within the Mobile area.