The SMU-led Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub will receive a nearly $29 million investment in an effort to expand semiconductor infrastructure, workforce development, and commercialization in North Texas and southern Oklahoma.
The investment includes $24 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Specifically, according to a press release, $13 million of the federal funding will be used to support the development of shared semiconductor infrastructure and specialized prototyping facilities, $6 million will be used to expand workforce education and training, and $5 million will go toward supporting entrepreneurs and businesses bringing emerging technologies to market.
The Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub was announced in 2023, with SMU designated as the lead institution, in an effort to bring public and private entities across 29 counties in Texas and Oklahoma together to enable advancements in semiconductor technology, regional collaboration, workforce development, and economic growth.
During an Oct. 23 announcement of the investment at SMU, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul Dabbar spoke about the region’s history of innovation in the semiconductor space, including the design and development of the first integrated circuit at Texas Instruments.
“The innovation that came out of this region on this topic affects every phone that we use, every car that we drive, and every asset that we use for national security in this country,” Dabbar said. “Building on Dallas, on the Texoma region from that great history was something that we were certainly thinking about.”
SMU President Jay Hartzell said the university’s location gives it an advantage in helping to drive semiconductor innovation.
“As Mustangs, we are proud to convene academic experts, industry and public sector partners, and turn promising ideas into meaningful progress,” Hartzell said. “That’s exactly what the Tech Hub represents. Over the past three years, the consortium has worked to build a shared vision of what we can accomplish. Together the team has identified challenges, developed strategies, and laid the groundwork for expanding semiconductor innovation.”
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) helped coordinate the establishment of the consortium and consultation throughout the initial application process that led to the region’s designation as one of 31 federally recognized Tech Hubs in 2023.
“Securing federal investments of this magnitude is a significant accomplishment for our region, but the real measure of success will be what we accomplish with those resources,” said Monte Mercer, NCTCOG Acting Executive Director. “NCTCOG is proud to have helped lay the groundwork for this initiative and to continue supporting the partners who will turn this investment into lasting benefits for communities across North Texas.”
