Microchips have become a matter of national security, and Texas is trying to avoid being caught in a crisis.There is a race to ramp up domestic production of semiconductors for cars, phones and appliances, but skilled workers are needed to make that happen.The state's billion-dollar investment illustrates Texas' commitment to the national race to capture billions of dollars in federal funds for the semiconductor chip industry.
The university already opened a new research center to advance semiconductor technology and test electronics in this highly specialized field.Reliance on chip imports is risky, as was evident during the pandemic. Disruptions in global supply chains led to microchip shortages, which in turn caused shockwaves across the U.S. economy.Texas Instruments is set to open the first phase of a new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Sherman in 2025. But other planned facilities in the U.S.