BIRMINGHAM (October 18) – Congressman Spencer Bachus today said the Southern Research Institute’s new engineering research center will help to drive the innovation that leads to new jobs and economic growth.

Bachus spoke at dedication ceremonies for the $5.6 million dollar expansion project. The 18,000 square foot building will support the institute’s space, defense, energy, and environmental research for clients including NASA, federal agencies, energy companies, and the defense industry. A portion of the expanded facility will be used as an incubator for the commercial development of new ideas generated by its researchers.

“Innovation is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Economic success stories like Apple, Google, and Microsoft all started as new ideas but quickly transformed our daily lives and economy. The Southern Research Institute is a hub for innovation and a leader in providing the basic and applied research that underpins an advanced economy. This impressive new engineering center will help ensure that the Southern Research Institute and the State of Alabama maintain a well-deserved reputation for excellence in research. It will translate into new economic opportunities and better lives for our citizens,” said Congressman Bachus.

Bachus also applauded the institute’s initiative to move innovative ideas generated in the lab to development in the commercial marketplace. As Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Bachus played a key role in the bipartisan passage of the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Small Business) Act, which was signed into law in April of this year. The law removed outdated financing and regulatory barriers faced by entrepreneurs trying to turn new ideas into business successes. A Time.com article called the bill “a giant step for entrepreneurism in America.”