News

North Texas Semiconductor Institute Director of Reliability Dr. Robert Baumann helps explain how NASA’s $5.2 billion Europa Clipper mission can survive the harsh environment as it orbits Jupiter.  Radiation belts around Jupiter formed from its strong magnetic field blast the semiconductor transistors that are critical to the spacecraft’s operation with high energy particles.  To avoid the damaging ionization from the particles, the transistors go through a process called annealing.  

Read the article here.

North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTxSI) Director Ted Moise spoke on the “Semiconductor Spotlight: Securing America’s Tech Future” panel at Capital Factory’s Fed Supernova in Austin.  Panelists included Rick Switzer, Principal ProjX, Dr. Whitney Mason, Director Microsystems Technology Office DARPA, Dr. Alex Huang, President and CTO Turbo Power Semiconductor, and Karthik Srinivasan, Assistant United States Attorney.  The panel discussed strategies for strengthening the security and resilience of this critical industry.  Workforce development initiatives are a critical component of bolstering domestic chip manufacturing.

Read more about the Fed Supernova here.

North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTxSI) Director Dr. Ted Moise and Center for Harsh Environments Semiconductor Systems (CHESS) Director Dr. Manuel Quevedo-Lopez were interviewed on FOX4 on how UT Dallas is supporting workforce development for the semiconductor industry.  The Department of Commerce announced a preliminary agreement with Texas Instruments for a $1.61 Billion CHIPS award that will drive the need for semiconductor workers.

See the interview here.

The University of Texas at Dallas hosted Bryan Daniel, Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission, and his staff to discuss semiconductor workforce needs. Attendees included representatives from semiconductor manufacturing and equipment companies, education providers, facilitators, manufacturing associations, and business leadership councils from both North and Central Texas. The discussions featured a crisp exchange of ideas aimed at supporting Texas semiconductor manufacturing companies and sharing best practices across the state.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited UT Dallas on March 19^th to announce the inaugural members of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee (TSIC EC). The consortium is headed by Dr. David E. Daniel, president emeritus of UT Dallas. The consortium will work with industry stakeholders to ensure Texas’ place as a national leader in advanced semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing. Sixteen universities across Texas will have a representative on the consortium.

“This is a great opportunity for our faculty and our students,” said Dr. Manuel Quevedo, the UT Dallas representative for the consortium. “We have been heavily involved in this research for more than 20 years, and we are in a good position to expand training and innovation.” 

On Thursday, July 27^th, The North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTxSI) at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) partnered with the Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) in Dayton, Ohio, to help UTD accelerate semiconductor innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in North Texas and the United States.

Please check out the photos showcasing this event’s fabulous speakers and attendees here.

In today’s wired world, chips power more than just computers. Cars, appliances, even toys rely on tiny silicon semiconductors, the vast majority of which are made in Taiwan. Supply chain disruptions caused by natural disasters or geopolitics could put America’s chip supply in jeopardy – and its whole economy at risk. The $280 billion CHIPS Act aims to rebuild America’s critical technology infrastructure, including the subsidizing of chip manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Correspondent David Pogue looks at how Silicon Valley is partnering with the government to ensure our country’s technological leadership, and why not everyone is happy about it.

The North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTxSI) was highlighted for its unique role in the North Texas area.  The institute brings together industry, other universities, community colleges, and local independent school districts to help prepare the United States for a surge in semiconductor production.  In addition to accelerating research in how semiconductor transistors survive in harsh environments, the institute will drive development, innovation, and collaboration and help train the future highly skilled semiconductor researchers.

Watch the video here.

Electronics that will be launched into space or used in military operations need to operate reliably under the most challenging conditions. The University of Texas at Dallas has opened a new research center to advance semiconductor technology and test electronics in this highly specialized field.

The Center for Harsh Environment Semiconductors and Systems (CHESS) addresses a demand for materials and devices that can withstand extreme temperatures, radiation and extreme mechanical conditions.

Read more here.