Alabama's new strategic plan defines three economic development drivers to help diversify the state's economic development efforts and maximize opportunities for growth. Programs that focus on job creation through innovation, entrepreneurship, R&D, and commercialization are listed among the "renewal" efforts of the three-part plan. This includes establishing a statewide innovation council, designating funds to expand commercialization programs, and creating a mechanism to provide state grant matching for SBIR/STTR awards. Similar to the economic gardening concept that has emerged in many other states, the Alabama plan moves away from pure recruitment efforts and focuses on creating and fostering a system that enhances the growth potential of jobs through technology developed within the state. Creating the Alabama Innovation Council to serve as a statewide, coordinated initiative is imperative for this effort to succeed, the report finds. Several tactics with funding recommendations for achieving this type of growth are outlined in the report, including: Coordinating and Increasing Commercialization Efforts — $2 million in state funds annually matched with $2 million in local funds for: Integrating renewal allies including the universities' Office for Technology Transfer, Launchpad, angel investors, venture community and incubators; Developing pre-seed, seed, startup and early and late stage support in conjunction with the venture community; and, Expanding Alabama Launchpad Building R&D Capacity — $20 million annually from the state and $20 million annually from other sources for: Selecting two or three targets of investment in research; Linking university and private research institutions around targets and developing a plan to expand capacity; Creating a Commercialization Scholars program; and, Using the 501(c)(3) status of universities for tax credits for contributions to support incubator initiatives. Providing Financial Support for Innovation-based Commercialization — unspecified state general revenue and private-sector matching R&D dollars to: Increase financial commitment to Alabama Innovation Fund to a minimum of $25 million; Create R&D tax credit; Create and fund Applied R&D Matching Grant program to encourage private sector/university research partnerships; and, Create Angel Investment and Tax Credit programs. Developing a Legislative Agenda Focused on Innovation Drafting legislation and securing sponsors for a comprehensive package to address creation of the Alabama Innovation Council; creation of a Commercialization Scholars program; and, creation of a mechanism for state support for grant matching for SBIR/STTR. Recruiting new business and industry and retaining programs that focus on expansion of existing companies round out the Accelerate Alabama plan, which is available at: http://www.boyettestrategicadvisors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Accel....