By Kingsville Independent News Staff
As demand grows for advanced technology used in everything from smartphones to satellites and national defense systems, Texas leaders are continuing to invest heavily in semiconductor research and development.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $13 million grant through the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to expand a semiconductor testing and research facility at Texas A&M University.
According to the governor’s office, the funding will support an expansion of the university’s Cyclotron Institute and Radiation Effects Facility in College Station, where researchers have conducted high-energy particle testing for more than 30 years.
State officials said the expansion is intended to improve radiation hardness testing, a process used to determine how electronic systems perform in harsh environments such as outer space, military operations and nuclear facilities.
The project will include new beam lines and the development of a new spectrometer designed to support semiconductor testing and nuclear science research, according to the announcement.
In a statement, Abbott said the investment is part of a broader effort to strengthen Texas’ role in semiconductor research, design and manufacturing.
“Texas is where the future of innovation accelerates,” Abbott said in the release. “Through this TSIF grant, Texas A&M University will speed the development of innovative technologies used in our semiconductor, defense, and space exploration industries.”
Semiconductors, commonly referred to as computer chips, are used in a wide range of modern technology, including phones, vehicles, medical equipment, satellites and defense systems. In recent years, federal and state leaders have increasingly focused on expanding domestic semiconductor production and research amid growing global competition and supply chain concerns.
Texas has emerged as one of the states investing heavily in that effort.
According to the governor’s office, the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund was created through the Texas CHIPS Act signed into law in 2023. The program was designed to encourage semiconductor-related research, manufacturing and workforce development across the state.
Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar said the grant will help expand research capabilities tied to national defense, energy systems and space technology.
“This grant will strengthen a resource that’s essential to testing and validating the electronics and materials our nation depends on, from satellites and spacecraft to missile defense systems and nuclear power,” Hegar said in the statement.
State officials also said the project is expected to strengthen Texas’ position within the growing advanced technology sector while supporting future economic development and high-tech job growth. The announcement comes as universities across Texas continue expanding partnerships tied to research, technology and workforce training, areas state leaders increasingly view as critical to long-term economic competitiveness.