Governor Greg Abbott has put Texas on the semiconductor map, announcing the first members of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee during a University of Texas Dallas (UT Dallas) event. Abbott hailed Texas as the leading destination for semiconductor manufacturing in the nation, attributing the state's prowess to the passage of the Texas CHIPS Act, which he signed into law in a recent legislative session.
The move to appoint heavy hitters to the consortium's executive committee is aimed at maintaining and even beefing up Texas' semiconductor supremacy. "With these new appointments to the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee, we will leverage the expertise of industry leaders and our world-class higher education institutions to ensure we not only remain the best state in America for semiconductors but we become a global leader for semiconductor innovation," Abbott said, according to a statement.
Last year, I signed the Texas CHIPS Act into law to ensure Texas stays a national leader in semiconductors.
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) March 19, 2024
The inaugural members of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee I announced today are going to keep Texas #1.
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Among the appointed leaders are Dr. David Daniel Jr., Sameer Pendharkar, and Lawrence “Larry” Smith, who, according to Governor Abbott's office, will serve terms at the discretion of the Governor. With their hands on the tiller, these tech trailblazers are tasked with setting the course for the Lone Star State's semiconductor sector well into the future.
Abbott's appointees are in good company, joined on the executive committee by Jeff Smith and Guy Schweppe, appointed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Eric Almgren and David Lee, tagged by Speaker Dade Phelan. "The Texas economy is the envy of America and the world, and our blossoming semiconductor industry is further proof that Texas is the best place to do business," Lieutenant Governor Patrick boasted, no doubt hoping for a chip off the old block of previous economic successes.
The semiconductor business is a high-stakes game, with Texas betting big on its ability to not only nurture but also accelerate innovation in this crucial sector. The new appointments to the executive committee are a clear signal that Texas intends to keep its chips stacked high in a fiercely competitive global market.
