The strength of Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) is rooted in collaboration because people here know when innovating to solve problems, the key to success is working together. It cuts down on duplicative efforts and makes the region more competitive when funding is on the line. From making chips to accelerating research that could improve or save lives, DFW is leading the charge.
Texoma research hubs
In 2022, 31 regions across the United States were recognized as tech hubs and awarded federal dollars through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
These are areas with high growth potential that can play a part in job creation as well as strengthen U.S. economic and national security, and one of them is in North Texas.
Out of 198 applicants, the EDA selected the Texoma region, which covers 26 counties and is bordered by Dallas-Fort Worth on the south and the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma to the north.
Led by SMU, with 60 regional members, it was named the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub (TSTH). It supports innovation and workforce development in the semiconductor industry by cultivating student interest in high-paying industry jobs and building training programs.
Members represent regional universities and colleges, industry, workforce and economic development organizations and local and regional governments–including the Choctaw Nation. In addition to federal dollars, funding is provided by the Texas CHIPS Act, which was signed into law in 2023.
James Grimsley, TSTH regional innovation officer, stressed that rebuilding U.S. dominance in the manufacture of semiconductors and related products is a national security issue, as semiconductor “chips” serve as the tiny brains behind many of our critical technologies, ranging from cell phones to automobile production.
He said SMU was eager to take the lead on this issue through building the TSTH consortium.
“The semiconductor industry effectively started in North Texas with Jack Kilby’s invention of the integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments,” Grimsley said. “But our domestic capability to manufacture chips eroded over the last few decades as much of the industry moved overseas. We saw the harsh impact of supply chain disruption during the pandemic, and geopolitical tensions could create disruptions, too.”
At the heart of the TSTH plan is the construction and distribution of Fablets™ which are shared lab facilities with mobile components. The goal is to provide Texoma communities with access to semiconductor education and workforce training resources. Traditionally, this kind of training has only been available to those with access to sophisticated, expensive cleanroom facilities that meet environmental requirements. Over time, the Fablets™ will help deepen the talent pipeline as well as introduce more middle and high schoolers to semiconductor production, which can be a lucrative career opportunity.
The TSTH plan calls for developing “stackable” educational pathways for students that would allow them to pursue incremental certificates over time – an approach called “the ladder of success.” University and college members of the consortium are working with industry members to develop curriculum and training programs.
“This is a ‘right time, right place’ moment for North Texas and southern Oklahoma,” said Grimsley. “We have an advantage over many of the other federally designated Tech Hubs because our region is already a major player in the semiconductor industry. With companies like Texas Instruments, Global Wafers America and Coherent in place and growing exponentially, we need to exploit this opportunity.
This complements the UNT-led Texoma Logistics Innovation Engine (TIE) which was launched in 2023 with support from a $1 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant. Coordinated by the Texas Research Alliance (TRA), Investigative leads from UNT, SMU, UTA, Dallas College, Austin College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University came together to focus on leveraging autonomous vehicles, AI and cyber to transform the logistics industry, while creating regional economic, societal and technological opportunities. TIE was one of only 40 teams across the country to receive a National Science Foundation ‘Engine Development award.’
“These kinds of partnerships don’t happen very often; this has been a once in a lifetime experience,” said Terry Pohlen, senior associate dean of UNT’s G. Brint Ryan College of Business, director of the Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research and principal investigator for the NSF Engines grant. “We are building a ‘Logistics Silicon Valley’ here in Texoma. Our mission is to connect innovators, investors and industries to create groundbreaking solutions for the supply chain sector.”
In September 2024, TIE took a big step forward when UNT gathered nearly 200 top academic, government and private sector leaders from around the region and nation to discuss how to effectively form public-private partnerships and lead transformative logistics change.
“Together, we know we have the power to effect change,” said Adam Fein, UNT vice president for digital strategy and innovation and chief digital officer, who served as emcee for the summit. “UNT believes in a multifaceted workforce, a strong regional economy and an ecosystem of innovation that provides access to social economic mobility.”
Both projects were the result of several years of planning and strategizing by several groups, including the Dallas Regional Chamber. From grant writing to guiding stakeholder engagement; identifying places where innovation gets slowed down and talking through the tech transfer process.
Pegasus Park lands ARPA-H
Dallas was also chosen by the federal government to play a part in accelerating research and development in the life sciences industry. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) – a $1.5 billion initiative, modeled after the Department of Defense research arm known as DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) – designated three locations in the United States as high growth areas with potential to make a big impact.
Dallas-Fort Worth teamed up with Austin, San Antonio and Houston to make the successful bid for an ARPA-H hub; it will physically be located at Pegasus Park, which is located between the Dallas Design District and the Southwestern Medical District. The ‘customer experience hub’ will focus on the end user and work to unify bespoke systems for a seamless experience.
Pegasus Park is already a center of innovation as it is home to 35 nonprofits – collectively called the Water Cooler – as well as the BioWorks initiative, an effort between Dallas College, Tarrant County College, Collin College and UTA. The UT Southwestern tech development office and SMU’s computational biology department are also there.
The Dallas Regional Chamber played a key role in landing ARPA-H – as both the public policy team and Mike Rosa, senior vice president of economic development, got information in front of policymakers and spoke to the unique benefits of the Dallas region.
Additionally, both the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and Lyda Hill were critical to the region’s success. Lyda Hill Philanthropies subsidizes the nonprofits on Pegasus Park’s campus and started working on the application roughly two years before the selection was made – getting all the puzzle pieces in place to demonstrate to the ARPA-H selection committee that Texas, and Dallas-Fort Worth in particular, meant business.