Three Carnegie R1 research universities, the top tier for research activity in the U.S., are within about 90 minutes of Rockdale, with facilities companies can use for prototyping, testing, and joint research.
- 3Carnegie R1 research universities within about 90 minutes
- $1.4BSemiconductor prototyping center at UT Austin, open to industry
- 1 kmHypersonics and ballistics test tunnel at Texas A&M-RELLIS
The University of Texas at Austin Carnegie R1
About 1 hourTexas Institute for Electronics
A $1.4 billion consortium, backed by DARPA and the State of Texas, building a national open-access facility for prototyping advanced semiconductor packaging. Its modernized fabs and 84,000 square feet of clean rooms are open to industry, startups, and government.
Learn more ↗UT Austin–Taylor Center
A new UT Austin campus on 68 acres on US 79 in Taylor, about 30 minutes west of Rockdale and near Samsung’s Taylor chip plant. UT is planning the center to grow the region’s semiconductor workforce and supply chain, and the Texas Institute for Electronics is considering it for training and research with industry partners.
Learn more ↗Applied Research Laboratories
One of the U.S. Department of Defense’s University Affiliated Research Centers, working on acoustics, sensors, navigation, and cybersecurity for the military and industry.
Learn more ↗More UT Austin research centers(13)
- Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)Supercomputing and advanced computing for academic and industry research.
- The Energy InstituteInterdisciplinary energy research and policy analysis.
- Texas RoboticsUnites UT Austin’s robotics research, including manufacturing automation and autonomous systems.
- Center for Additive Manufacturing and Design InnovationResearch and process development in additive manufacturing (3D printing).
- Microelectronics Research CenterResearch and development in electronic materials and devices.
- Texas Materials InstituteMaterials science research and shared instrumentation.
- Texas Quantum InstituteQuantum computing, energy-efficient electronics, secure communications, and sensing.
- Center for ElectromechanicsResearch on electric machines, energy storage, and pulsed power.
- Center for Energy and Environmental ResourcesWorks with industry on energy-efficient, lower-waste processes.
- Nuclear Engineering Teaching LaboratoryNuclear engineering research and education.
- Center for Aeromechanics ResearchAerodynamics, combustion, and flight structures research.
- Center for Space ResearchMission planning, design, and execution for spacecraft and aircraft.
- Center for Transportation ResearchTransportation science and technology research.
Texas A&M University Carnegie R1
About 1 hourAdvanced Nuclear at RELLIS
The Texas A&M System is hosting next-generation reactor projects at RELLIS. Terrestrial Energy holds about 77 acres for its small modular reactor and was selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program.
Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute
A more than $200 million, 80,000-square-foot institute under construction at RELLIS, with clean rooms, fabrication space, and labs that mirror real chip production. It will connect universities, government, and industry for semiconductor research, manufacturing, and training. Construction is expected to continue through 2028.
Institute for Manufacturing Systems
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s manufacturing research and outreach arm, giving Texas industry direct access to the A&M System’s manufacturing expertise, with 10 core facilities and about 5,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space.
Learn more ↗More Texas A&M research centers(4)
- Bush Combat Development Complex at RELLISArmy and industry testing, including a one-kilometer instrumented tunnel for hypersonics and directed-energy testing and a proving ground for autonomous vehicles.
- Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)The state’s engineering research agency, partnering with companies on research, testing, and training.
- High Performance Research ComputingSupercomputing resources for research.
- Materials Characterization FacilityShared instruments for analyzing and testing materials.
Baylor University Carnegie R1
About 1.5 hoursBaylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC)
Baylor’s industry research center in Waco. Its Material Testing and Characterization Core handles mechanical, thermal, impact, fatigue, and non-destructive testing. A micro- and nanofabrication clean room and the Central Texas Cyber Range round out services for industry and defense partners.
Learn more ↗Looking for a research partner? We'll make the introduction.
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