What happened
The multimillion-dollar award under the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund was announced by Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 10. The new funding will allow UT Austin to establish the QLab, described as a quantum-enhanced semiconductor facility focused on metrology, or measurement science.
“Texas is the new frontier of innovation and UT Austin is where world-changing discoveries in quantum research and development are being made," Abbott said in a statement. "Through this TSIF grant, QLab will acquire state-of-the-art instrumentation that will be used to advance semiconductor manufacturing in Texas by leveraging new developments in quantum science and technology. Texas will continue to lead the nation with quantum leaps into the future.”
The details
The QLab metrology facility is meant to support UT’s academic research and serve the semiconductors and quantum industries in Texas. Abbott noted metrology is “critical” to semiconductor manufacturing given the scale of materials measured through the process.
QLab will be managed by UT’s Texas Quantum Institute, or TQI, in collaboration with the Microelectronic Research Center, Texas Institute for Electronics and Texas Materials Institute—all of which Abbott labeled as UT Austin’s “world-class research and development infrastructure.” TQI co-Director Xiuling Li said the state investment supports “tremendous momentum” to advance quantum semiconductor breakthroughs in Texas.
“Metrology has been identified by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the key enabling technology for the semiconductor industry. This investment from the TSIF will empower UT Austin to advance metrology tools that can be applied to address critical challenges in the semiconductor industry,” TQI co-Director Elaine Li.
The university didn't respond to a request for more information about the QLab's launch and location as of press time.
The context
The TSIF was established under 2023 legislation, known as the Texas CHIPS Act, that was signed into law as state officials pushed to support the semiconductor sector in Texas. The fund is administered by the Texas CHIPS Office under Abbott's economic development division.
TSIF funds have flowed into initiatives statewide, with several in Central Texas including Samsung's expansive Taylor fabrication plant, a Yerico Manufacturing facility in Elgin, and an Austin Community College manufacturing lab and KoMiCo Technologies facility in Round Rock.
The state award also follows other local investments in semiconductor facilities and education given the region's prominence in the chipmaking industry. Samsung has supported both UT and ACC on workforce and training initiatives, and both institutions partnered to create a new semiconductor training center. UT has also moved to establish a Taylor campus near the future Samsung plant and launch a new semiconductor master's program.
