Texas A&M University has begun construction on a $226 million semiconductor research and development facility in Bryan, Texas, marking a significant investment in domestic chip innovation and workforce training.
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The project, known as the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute, broke ground April 9 with state officials and Greg Abbott in attendance, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
The approximately 80,000-square-foot facility will support research, training and collaboration, with construction expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028.
The institute will include flexible laboratories designed to replicate real-world semiconductor manufacturing environments, said Glenn Hegar.
“It is designed to connect research, industry and workforce at scale,” Hegar said. “This facility delivers on that mission. Students and individuals have opportunities in training in our clean rooms, work alongside industry and move directly into high-demand, high-paying careers. That is how you build a workforce and strengthen an industry.”
The building will feature advanced labs focused on process and tooling development, metrology, packaging, radio frequency, photonics, testing and evaluation. It will also include a skilled-trade lab aimed at expanding workforce training.
A central component of the facility is a fully enclosed clean room capable of supporting full-scale semiconductor production, with purity ratings of Class 100 and 1,000 and 300mm wafer equipment.
Additional infrastructure will include loading docks, hazardous materials handling areas, and storage and distribution space to support operational needs.
The project is part of the Texas CHIPS Act, signed into law in 2023 to attract semiconductor investment and expand education and workforce development programs.
Funding includes $205.5 million allocated by the university system, with $161.8 million dedicated to construction and the remainder supporting equipment and related improvements, according to Steve Putna.
“This project is about building the physical foundation needed to keep Texas competitive in semiconductor research, manufacturing and workforce development,” Hegar said in an earlier statement. “The scale of this investment reflects both the urgency of the moment and Texas A&M’s responsibility to deliver solutions that serve the state and the country.”
The facility will be located at the Rellis campus, a 3,300-acre innovation hub about eight miles from the university’s main campus in College Station. The site already hosts initiatives focused on transportation, national security, energy and artificial intelligence.
Texas A&M has also formed partnerships with major semiconductor firms operating in the state, including Samsung, Tokyo Electron America and Cadence.
Additionally, the university has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Substrate, which is evaluating potential locations for a multibillion-dollar fabrication facility in the U.S. The proposed project, known as “Project Factory One,” could be developed at the Rellis campus if financing and incentives are secured.
The semiconductor institute represents the university’s most expensive project per square foot to date, reflecting the high cost of cutting-edge technology and specialized infrastructure required for chip manufacturing and research.
As states across the U.S. compete to attract semiconductor investment, projects like the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute highlight the growing role of higher education institutions in advancing domestic manufacturing capacity and workforce readiness.
Originally reported by Sara Samora, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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