Space Forge picks Texas A&M for first US chip plant

Space Forge has signed a master research agreement with the Texas A&M University System, laying the groundwork for its first US semiconductor materials manufacturing and processing facility.

The agreement applies across the full Texas A&M system and sets out how future joint research projects will be managed. Space Forge plans to establish a dedicated facility at the College Station campus, drawing on existing cleanroom and materials infrastructure as well as the local workforce.

The move gives the Florida-based company a foothold in the US as it looks to build domestic production of advanced semiconductor materials. It also places Space Forge within a Texas network that already hosts a growing semiconductor and space industry.

According to the organisations, Texas A&M was chosen for its semiconductor facilities, cleanrooms, and materials processing and characterisation resources. Space Forge will work with the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute and the AggieFab Nanofabrication Facility.

AggieFab is part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and the university's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The wider university system is one of the largest in the US, with an annual budget of USD $9.1 billion, about 175,000 students, and annual research spending of nearly USD $1.6 billion.

Texas base

The decision reflects Texas's growing weight in both semiconductor manufacturing and commercial space activity. Several of Space Forge's existing collaborators, including Intuitive Machines, Voyager, and Starlab, are already based in the state.

The initial phase of the collaboration will focus on terrestrial material growth, characterisation, and processing. Over the following 12 to 24 months, the work is expected to expand to include joint research opportunities across the Texas A&M system.

The expansion comes as the US pushes to increase local chip production. Domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity is projected to grow 203% in the decade following the CHIPS and Science Act, according to figures cited from the Semiconductor Industry Association and Boston Consulting Group.

Space Forge describes itself as an advanced materials company that uses space to produce semiconductor materials that cannot be made on Earth. The US facility would mark an early step in turning that research focus into a domestic manufacturing base.

Steve Putna outlined the university's view of the partnership.

"Space Forge's leadership in developing high-quality substrates for advanced materials and semiconductor applications aligns perfectly with our institute's mission to drive disruptive, next-generation research. Together, we will pursue breakthroughs that strengthen semiconductor innovation. Texas is one of the most dynamic environments for semiconductors in the nation, and collaborations like this one are exactly what will keep the Texas A&M System at the forefront of that momentum. This collaboration not only advances cutting-edge research, but also fuels workforce development and economic growth right here in Texas. We look forward to the impactful work ahead with Space Forge," said Putna.

Putna is Director of the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute and Associate Vice Chancellor for the Texas A&M System.

Research plans

Arum Han said the university's fabrication environment would support work on semiconductor substrates. Han also highlighted the project's role in giving students and researchers direct experience in the field.

"AggieFab has built its reputation as a nanofabrication facility where researchers and industry partners can turn ambitious ideas into real devices and materials. Our cleanroom environment, along with our advanced fabrication, characterization and material processing tools, gives Space Forge a powerful foundation to develop and refine the next generation of semiconductor substrates right here in Texas. We're excited to put our infrastructure and technical expertise to work in this collaboration while giving our students and researchers hands-on experience with the pioneering materials that will define the future of the industry," said Han.

Han is Director of AggieFab and Associate Agency Director for the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.

For Space Forge, the agreement is the start of a broader US build-out rather than a final manufacturing announcement. The company identified infrastructure, research support, and access to talent as central to its choice of location.

"This agreement is an important first step in establishing our manufacturing presence in the United States. The Texas A&M System gives us the infrastructure, the research strength and the talent to stand up our first US facility for semiconductor materials, and to do it in a state that has demonstrated with funding, how serious it is about both advancing semiconductors and space," said Michelle Flemming, President of Space Forge.