Partnerships in Practice HBCU Initiative Webinar Series | Innovate Alabama: Building Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pipelines
Partnerships in Practice: The HBCU Initiative Webinar Series shines a spotlight on the power of collaboration by showcasing innovative, high-impact joint efforts between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and a range of cross-sector partners—from industry, universities, and government to private funders and nonprofit organizations. These dynamic sessions foster shared learning and reflect the broader goals of supporting and improving collaborations to build research capacity and programmatic capabilities through UIDP’s HBCU Initiative.
Launched in anticipation of HBCU Engage 2026, this series aims to spark new ideas, foster meaningful dialogue, and strengthen collaboration between HBCUs and partners across sectors, advancing impactful research and shared innovation goals. Each webinar features a distinct partnership model, offering practical insights and real-world examples of effective engagement in action. The webinar series is open to UIDP member and nonmember representatives.
UIDP hosted part three of the webinar series on August 5. Alabama is pioneering a statewide approach to cultivating innovation talent by investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs, technologists, and changemakers from HBCUs. At the heart of this effort is the HBCU Innovation Experience, an initiative led by Innovate Alabama that leverages public-private partnerships and the strength of local technology ecosystems to equip students with critical entrepreneurial, digital, and innovation skills.
This webinar explored how Alabama is building a replicable model for innovation—one that connects HBCU students to hands-on learning, mentorship, and career-defining opportunities in emerging industries. Speakers shared how cross-sector collaboration is driving economic mobility, strengthening the state’s innovation economy, and positioning Alabama as a leader in HBCU-focused tech workforce development.
Agenda Highlights:
- The vision behind Innovate Alabama’s HBCU Innovation Experience
- How public-private partnerships are supporting student success and entrepreneurship
- Strategies for integrating HBCUs into regional innovation ecosystems
Originally aired,
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Speakers
- Freda Green, Senior Manager, Global Talent Acquisition, RTI International
- Shannon Allen, Program Director, HBCU Engagement, Innovate Alabama