Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday a $4.8 million state grant to establish a quantum-enhanced semiconductor testing facility at the University of Texas at Austin.
The funding will create QLab, a cutting-edge metrology center designed to advance chip manufacturing through quantum science applications.
The investment signals Texas’s push to maintain its semiconductor dominance while positioning itself at the forefront of emerging quantum technologies. As global competition for chip production intensifies, the facility could give Texas manufacturers a critical edge in precision measurement capabilities.
“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. “Texas will continue to lead the nation with quantum leaps into the future.”
The grant comes from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, established through the 2023 Texas CHIPS Act. QLab will be managed by the Texas Quantum Institute in collaboration with three other UT Austin research centers.
Metrology — the science of ultra-precise measurement — has become increasingly vital in modern chip manufacturing. Today’s semiconductors require measurements at the atomic and molecular level, where quantum technologies offer unprecedented accuracy.
“Metrology has been identified by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the key enabling technology for the semiconductor industry,” said TQI Co-director Elaine Li. “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.”
The facility will serve both Texas’ established semiconductor industry and its emerging quantum sector. It will also support academic research efforts across multiple disciplines.
State Senator Sarah Eckhardt emphasized the regional economic impact.
“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,” she said.
The Texas CHIPS Act programs aim to leverage state investments to attract semiconductor companies and maintain Texas’ position as the nation’s leading chip manufacturing hub. The initiatives are administered by the Texas CHIPS Office within the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office.
