Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub
Lead Agency: Southern Methodist University
States Served: Oklahoma, Texas
Applicant-Defined Region: 29 counties across North Central Texas into Southern Oklahoma
Core Technology Area: fablet-based semiconductor manufacturing
Contact: James Grimsley (grimsleyj@smu.edu)
Media Contact: Kim Cobb (cobbk@smu.edu)
Organizational Link: https://www.texomatechhub.org/
The Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub, led by Southern Methodist University, seeks to unify existing and planned semiconductor supply chain infrastructure by enhancing regional collaboration and uplifting underserved communities through workforce expansion. Leveraging its central location and robust transportation network, this Tech Hub offers a semiconductor manufacturing model that geographically consolidates the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain from wafers to products. By deploying a geographically-distributed “fablet” model—building targeted, accessible labs for electronic design, semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and testing—the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub will foster a consolidated semiconductor innovation ecosystem with supply chain resilience and workforce opportunities.
The Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub seeks to execute an innovative model of ecosystem development that will elevate the Texoma region and become a global leader in semiconductors, a critical component of all modern technological advances, by leveraging the region’s existing infrastructure and proximity to many of the raw materials necessary for semiconductor manufacturing.
This consortium’s proposal includes plans to:
- Leverage shared lab facilities and a digital platform to address critical gaps in workforce training along with prototyping and development activities;
- Implement two workforce development proposals: one to create equitable training opportunities to grow the semiconductor workforce, and the other to transform education opportunities in rural, mostly Tribal, areas to provide greater access for historically underserved populations to participate in the modern technology economy;
- Harness technology advancements that originate in the region’s research universities, companies, and entrepreneurial enterprises to provide access to networks, resources, and access to capital; and
- Recruit executive and advisory board members to inform the overall vision, strategy, and management of the consortium.
To ensure that the impacts of the Tech Hub projects benefit the entire region, the consortium is committed to providing access and resources to all communities in the region, including those who would otherwise have no access to semiconductor training and resources, through ensuring that equity is an integral part of all planning and strategy, and a strong partnership with the Choctaw Nation as the lead for one of the component proposals.
This summary is based on information submitted by the applicants.
Strategy Development Grant Amount: $399,997
Designee Narrative (PDF) (submitted by the designee in its Phase 2 application package)
Additional Designations Earned in Region
