Gov. Greg Abbott named Joe Elabd, the Texas A&M University System’s vice chancellor for research, and Guy A. Schweppe, A&M Class of 1989, to the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium (TSIC) Executive Committee on Tuesday during an event in Dallas.

The TSIC executive committee will govern the consortium’s work and collaborate with semiconductor industry officials as Texas looks to be a national leader in the coming years in semiconductor research, design and manufacturing.

“Texas is the birthplace of the integrated circuit, and we now lead the nation as the No. 1 state for semiconductor manufacturing,” Abbott said in a statement. “In the last legislative session, I signed the Texas CHIPS Act into law to help further cement Texas’ position as a national leader in the semiconductor industry. 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.

“Thanks to the Texas CHIPS Act and the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium and the Executive Committee, our great state will continue to dominate in the semiconductor industry for years to come.”

Elabd and Schweppe are two of nine members of the TSIC’s executive committee. Schweppe, who serves as senior vice president of technology and software procurement at Dell Technologies, was appointed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Schweppe is a member of A&M’s Supply Chain Consortium and A&M’s MBA Employment Impact Board. Elabd was appointed by Sharp and has served as A&M’s interim vice chancellor for engineering, dean of A&M’s College of Engineering and interim director of the A&M Engineering Experiment Station since August 2023. Elabd will soon turn those interim roles over to Robert Bishop, who was hired from the University of South Florida last month.

A&M Chancellor John Sharp and State Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood and A&M Class of 1988, joined other lawmakers, higher education leaders and semiconductor industry officials for Abbott’s announcement on the University of Texas at Dallas campus.

“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,” Patrick said in a statement. “Our continued leadership in the semiconductor industry will bring major investment and high-quality jobs into our state and is instrumental for a brighter Texas future. I have full confidence that my appointees will provide valuable expertise to the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium to capitalize on our industry leadership and drive further growth in Texas for decades to come.”

Sixteen people were chosen to serve on the TSIC from institutions of higher education, a group that included David Staack, interim director of A&M’s Semiconductor Institute. This advisory panel to the governor’s office and the Texas Legislature is tasked with coming up with a plan to develop ongoing semiconductor innovation in the state through collaboration between higher education institutions, industry partners and other stakeholders.

There has been a strong push for domestic semiconductor production over the last few years rooted in concerns over China’s threat toward Taiwan. In August 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law after it combined two bipartisan bills, one of which was sponsored by local Congressman Michael McCaul. The act appropriated $52.7 billion in funding toward the domestic semiconductor industry. The United States is expected to have at least two new large-scale clusters of leading-edge logic fabrication facilities by the end of the decade, according to the Department of Commerce (DOC), and Texas is a frontrunner for one.

In June 2023, Abbott signed the Texas CHIPS Act, which set aside $200 million to the A&M System through the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund for quantum and artificial intelligence chip fabrication. A&M is expected to put facilities at the RELLIS campus they would propose to be part of a potential cluster, a proposal that would also include existing facilities and potential new ones in other parts of the state.

A&M and the University of Texas have been designated by Abbott’s office to coordinate the state’s response to DOC solicitations in different areas. A&M has been designated to coordinate the response to projects for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) and Manufacturing USA Institutes. NSTC decisions have been expected to occur this fall. Should Texas land one of the coveted clusters, A&M officials are expected to take a leadership role in making it serve the entire state. Both of these clusters are expected to employ thousands.