AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund has granted the Texas Quantum Institute at the University of Texas $4.8 million to establish QLab, a quantum-enhanced semiconductor metrology facility.
This comes after an announcement last week about the state granting Temple College $9.8 million to create a Chip Hub in Taylor, Texas. Gov. Abbott was excited about the innovation that the lab could bring in the capitol city.
“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. “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.”
According to a press release, the QLab will serve the emerging semiconductor and quantum industries in Texas, along with the metrology that comes with semiconductor manufacturing. Elaine Li, the co-director of the TQI, was grateful for the collaboration of UT Austin.
“The Texas Quantum Institute is grateful for the continued support of the State of Texas and UT Austin,” Li said. “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.”
With the signing of the CHIPS Act in Texas in 2023, more semiconductor facilities and innovations are expected to rapidly increase in Texas.
Semiconductors are important for all electronic devices, as they conduct or insulate electricity in the devices. Texas, and the United States as a whole, is attempting to ramp up semiconductor manufacturing across the board as a counter to Taiwan’s dominance in the semiconductor manufacturing market.