Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the Texas Quantum Institute (TQI) at The University of Texas at Austin will receive a $4.8 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF). The funding will support the creation of QLab, a new facility focused on quantum-enhanced semiconductor metrology in Austin.

“Texas is the new frontier of innovation and UT Austin is where world-changing discoveries in quantum research and development are being made," said Governor Abbott. "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 QLab facility aims to serve both the semiconductor industry and emerging quantum technology sectors, as well as academic researchers. Metrology—the science of measurement—is essential for semiconductor manufacturing, which requires precise measurements at atomic and molecular levels. TQI will manage QLab in collaboration with several other UT Austin research centers: the Microelectronic Research Center (MRC), Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE), and Texas Materials Institute (TMI).

“The Texas Quantum Institute is grateful for the continued support of the State of Texas and UT Austin,” said TQI Co-director Elaine Li. “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.”

“This investment gives us tremendous momentum to advance quantum-enhanced semiconductor metrology, driving breakthroughs that will shape the future of both the semiconductor and quantum industries,” added TQI Co-director Xiuling Li.

Senator Sarah Eckhardt also commented on how university-led innovation supports local economic growth: “The innovative work of the faculty and researchers at UT Austin has helped make Central Texas a national hub for semiconductor innovation. As quantum technologies continues to transform the semiconductor industry, the QLab will play a pivotal role in positioning our region to capitalize on growth in the semiconductor and quantum industries, including the thousands of high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs that will come with it.”

In 2023, Governor Abbott signed into law legislation known as the Texas CHIPS Act, which established both TSIF—a grant program supporting leadership in semiconductor research—and an associated consortium. These initiatives are managed by divisions within his office dedicated to economic development and tourism, aiming to encourage expansion by companies involved in semiconductors, enhance higher education expertise in this area, and maintain Texas’s status as a leading state for chip manufacturing.