Researchers at Texas Tech University have secured approximately $4.5 million in funding from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to advance the development of wide- and ultrawide-bandgap semiconductor technologies for high-power electronics, defence applications and next-generation communications systems.

The three-year project, titled Research and Development of Wide/Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Materials, Devices and Applications, will be led by Stephen Bayne alongside a multidisciplinary team from the university’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management & Manufacturing.

The funding forms part of the broader Texas CHIPS initiative established under the Texas CHIPS Act signed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023. The programme is designed to strengthen semiconductor research, manufacturing and workforce development across the state as Texas seeks to expand its role in the US semiconductor industry.

The research will focus on enhancing Texas Tech’s capabilities in wide- and ultrawide-bandgap semiconductor materials, which are increasingly viewed as critical for high-power, high-frequency, and harsh-environment applications. These advanced semiconductor materials offer improved efficiency, thermal performance and durability compared with conventional silicon technologies.

According to the research team, the programme is intended not only to accelerate technological innovation but also to support workforce training, commercialisation opportunities and long-term economic growth within the semiconductor ecosystem. The project is expected to contribute to the development of new manufacturing capabilities and strengthen collaboration between academia, government and industry partners.

The initiative also targets strategic sectors including aerospace, defence and advanced communications. Planned research includes improving high-electron-mobility transistors for demanding operational environments, advancing radio-frequency and millimetre-wave components, and developing high-performance nanostructured optoelectronic devices and high-voltage systems.

Texas continues to expand investment in semiconductor infrastructure and research as competition intensifies globally around advanced chip technologies, supply chain resilience and national security-related manufacturing capabilities.