Texas Tech University’s Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering will build a new clean-room facility for semiconductor research, supported by a $12 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) and matched by the university for a total project cost of $24 million.
The project is led by Roland Faller, dean of Whitacre College; Changzhi Li, associate dean of research and graduate programs in Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE); and Hieu P. Nguyen, associate professor in ECE. The TSIF grant was awarded through the Texas CHIPS Office, part of the state’s Economic Development & Tourism Office under the Governor’s Office. The fund supports higher education institutions and businesses in Texas that are working on semiconductor manufacturing and design projects. It was created after the Texas CHIPS Act was signed into law in 2023.
“We are grateful for the support of the Governor’s Office and the confidence it reflects in Texas Tech University,” said President Lawrence Schovanec. “This investment strengthens our ability to contribute to the state’s growing semiconductor ecosystem through research, innovation and workforce development. It also affirms the important role that higher education plays in advancing the competitiveness and economic strength of Texas.”
Faller also expressed appreciation for state support: “We are thankful for the TSIF program in the Office of the Governor,” he said. “This facility will allow advanced research on next generation ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors and at the same time help train the workforce for the future of semiconductor manufacturing in Texas.”
A clean room is necessary for semiconductor manufacturing because even tiny particles can damage microchips during production. Such facilities require strict control over temperature, humidity, airflow, noise, vibration, and airborne particles. They are expensive to set up and maintain due to these requirements.
Nguyen noted that matching funds from Texas Tech were essential: “Texas Tech really wants to push this research to a higher level,” he said. “Without this funding, I don’t think we can have a good quality clean room.”
Li emphasized that building this clean room would benefit more than just electrical engineering students: “This project represents a comprehensive integration of research infrastructure development, academic research and education across multiple levels,” Li said. “There will be research opportunities for students from diverse disciplines, including electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry and environmental science.”
The new facility is expected to enhance faculty research capabilities beyond what current smaller clean rooms provide at Texas Tech.
Nguyen added that hands-on experience with such equipment would improve student learning: “The new clean room will be a game-changer, empowering our researchers to achieve higher precision and groundbreaking discoveries,” Nguyen said. “It will serve as a hub for pioneering research and will help attract collaborations and investments that benefit our entire university community.” He further commented on student involvement: “If we can have some hands-on experiences or experiments for the students and they can use the clean-room facility directly to make a chip, the students would be very ecstatic.”
According to Li, when it opens in 2027, this facility will also support a new electrical engineering technology major being planned by Whitacre College.
Nguyen concluded by noting broader recognition expected from peers nationwide: “Our peers and colleagues around the country and the world will recognize Texas Tech,” Nguyen said. “Having a state-of-the-art clean room will increase Texas Tech’s standing in the scientific community and attract top talent.”
