In a significant step toward strengthening the semiconductor workforce, Texas A&M University is partnering with Arm, a leading global chip design company, to collaborate on educational, research, and workforce development initiatives. This partnership is set to amplify the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act, a federal initiative to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Arm is headquartered in the UK with one of its largest U.S. offices – and a leading design center – in South Austin. Together, Texas A&M and Arm are committing to a multi-faceted collaboration that integrates industry knowledge directly into academic programs and research initiatives.
Empowering the next generation of chip designers
With the semiconductor industry facing a surge in demand for skilled engineers, fueled in part by the CHIPS and Science Act, universities all over the country are adapting curricula to better align with industry needs. Texas A&M is now significantly adding to this movement.
“This partnership is about bringing the real-world challenges of chip design into our classrooms,” said Dr. Jeyavijayan Rajendran, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Think of it like teaching someone to drive in an actual car rather than a toy one — students will now work with the latest tools, problems, and technologies used in the field today.”
Texas A&M will gain access to educational materials developed by Arm’s engineers and ecosystem partners. These resources will help enrich the college’s chip design courses, providing students with hands-on experience and industry-relevant content. In return, Arm will incorporate insights from academic expertise into its ongoing training and education development strategies.
This partnership is about bringing the real-world challenges of chip design into our classrooms. Think of it like teaching someone to drive in an actual car rather than a toy one — students will now work with the latest tools, problems, and technologies used in the field today.
Mutually beneficial partnership
Beyond exchanging course materials, this collaborative effort establishes a pipeline for student internships, full-time positions, and capstone project collaborations. Engineers from Arm are discussing with faculty to co-develop new courses to prepare students for industry training.
Additionally, the partnership will facilitate joint research initiatives, especially in areas targeted by the CHIPS and Science Act. Several electrical and computer engineering faculty — Drs. Sunil Khatri, Arum Han, Jiang Hu, and Paul Gratz — are already working on proposals involving Arm engineers as technical collaborators.
“This is the closest we’ve worked with a major chip design company since our engagements with Samsung and Texas Instruments,” Rajendran said. “While Samsung operates more on the manufacturing side, Arm focuses on design—this allows us to cover more ground in the semiconductor value chain.”
Boosting Texas A&M’s semiconductor footprint
Texas A&M’s partnership with Arm also aligns with broader state efforts under the Texas CHIPS Act to position the state as a national leader in semiconductor innovation.
In July, Texas A&M joined the Semiconductor Education Alliance, a global consortium led by Arm to advance semiconductor talent development and ecosystem collaboration. The university’s participation in the Alliance strengthens its role in shaping the future of chip design education and reinforces its commitment to national workforce development priorities.
“We want to send a clear signal: Texas A&M is ready, eager, and equipped to collaborate with industry leaders,” Rajendran said. “When companies like Arm invest in us, it shows we have the infrastructure, talent, and vision to support high-impact partnerships.”
"Arm's commitment to Texas A&M through this agreement is a powerful affirmation of our shared vision to align academic rigor with industry needs,” said Dr. Steve Putna, director of the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute. “By integrating Arm's real-world expertise into our programs, we are ensuring our students are uniquely prepared to lead the charge in semiconductor innovation."
Both institutions plan to officially launch the initiative by Fall 2025.