UT Austin Awarded $4.8M to Launch Quantum Metrology Facility

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will receive $4.8 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to establish QLab, a quantum-enhanced semiconductor metrology facility designed to advance next-generation chip manufacturing and support emerging quantum technologies.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced the award in a Dec. 10 news release. The new facility will be managed by the Texas Quantum Institute in collaboration with the Microelectronics Research Center, Texas Institute for Electronics and Texas Materials Institute, all of which are research entities inside UT Austin.

QLab’s capabilities will support both the semiconductor and quantum industries, enabling the development of precise tools needed for the fabrication and analysis of advanced materials and devices.

“The Texas Quantum Institute is grateful for the continued support of the state of Texas and UT Austin,” said Elaine Li, co-director of the institute. “Metrology has been identified by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the key enabling technology for the semiconductor industry.”

The QLab announcement follows another recent award under the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund: a $9.8 million grant to Temple College to establish the Central Texas Chips Hub in Taylor. That project, launched in collaboration with Texas A&M University — Central Texas, is designed to create a regional workforce pipeline through credential-based training and degree programs in semiconductor technology.

With both infrastructure and workforce initiatives underway, Texas is advancing its strategy under the Texas CHIPS Act, which was signed into law in 2023. The act established the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund and the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, aiming to position the state as a national leader in semiconductor research, design and manufacturing.

Administered by the Texas CHIPS Office within the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Office, the grant program aims to support the expansion of in-state manufacturing, promote collaboration between industry and higher education, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness in advanced technology sectors.

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, whose district includes UT Austin, said QLab will help Central Texas stay at the forefront of semiconductor and quantum industry growth.

“As quantum technologies continue 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.