Eric Almgren Appointed to Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee

TSIC focused on growing Texas’ leadership in advanced semiconductor research, design & manufacturing

Austin, Tx - (March 21, 2024) — Castle Peak Advisors, a Texas-based deep technology/semiconductor strategic advisory firm, announces that one of its Managing Directors, Eric Almgren, has been appointed to sit on the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee (TSIC EC). The committee’s mission is to advise the state of Texas on how best to grow the state’s leadership position in the semiconductor industry. In June 2023, Governor Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 5174 which appropriated $698 million for the Texas CHIPS Act semiconductor fund. In addition, the Legislature appropriated more than $660 million for the creation of advanced research and development centers at The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

“I am honored to be on this prestigious committee and help the state of Texas remain the best state in America for semiconductors as we continue our goal of being a global leader for semiconductor innovation,” said Eric Almgren. “Through this committee’s work, we will assist the state in bringing in major investments and high-quality jobs to accelerate Texas’ leadership position as the nation’s hub for semiconductor manufacturing.”

The TSIC EC was formed specifically to:

  • Develop a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure ongoing semiconductor innovation

  • Sustain Texas' leadership in semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing

  • Attract public and private investment in Texas related to semiconductors

  • Identify and expand opportunities for workforce training and development related to semiconductors

  • Establish a forum for public and private stakeholders across the semiconductor manufacturing industry with Texas to focus on education, research, and commercial production

Governor Greg Abbott announces the members of the TSIC EC
at a press conference on March 20, 2024

Eric was selected for his lengthy and impressive career in the semiconductor industry. Eric began his career designing microprocessor chips at Hewlett Packard and later joined LSI Logic, now Broadcom, where he oversaw marketing and sales of highly integrated circuits and played a pivotal role in establishing the CoreWare Division that designed and manufactured highly integrated chips for its customers. Almgren went on to co-found Silicon Image, Inc., a pioneering company in the development, sale, and licensing of high-speed serial circuits. At Silicon Image, Inc. Eric was a co-founder and led the HDMI licensing business, leading Silicon Image, Inc., to become a top-five semiconductor licensing business. As CEO and chair of Keyssa, Inc., Almgren led disruptive innovations in high-speed wireless chips for customers that included Samsung, Amazon, Meta, Google, Intuitive Surgical, Foxconn, and LG.

The eight other TSIC committee members include:

  • David E. Daniel, Ph.D. of Dallas is President Emeritus of UT Dallas, a part time engineering consultant and serves on several nonprofit boards.

  • Sameer Pendharkar of Allen is senior fellow and vice president of technology development at Texas Instruments.

  • Lawrence “Larry” Smith of Austin is chair of the board for Tokyo Electron U.S. He is a former chair and member of the SEMI North American Advisory Board.

  • Guy A. Schweppe of Austin is the senior vice president of Technology and Software Procurement at Dell Technologies.

  • Jeffrey M. Smith of Cedar Park is the vice president of Infra Technology at Samsung Austin Semiconductor.

  • David (Jong Ho) Lee is the director of corporate strategy at Dongjin USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dongjin Semichem Co., Ltd. (Dongjin).

  • Joe Elabd, Ph.D. is the vice chancellor for research at the Texas A&M University System.

  • S.V. Sreenivasan, Ph.D. is the Cockrell Family Regents Endowed Chair #7 in Engineering at UT Austin.

For more information, see the press release from the Office of the Texas Governor. To watch the press conference, click here.  

 

About Castle Peak Advisors, LLC

Castle Peak Advisors is a Texas-based strategic advisory company with a focus on high technology. Markets served include: semiconductors/semiconductor supply chain, materials, EVs, medical devices, and other deep tech market segments. Castle Peak’s services include strategic consulting, market expansion, technology assessment, innovation and R&D advisory, supply chain optimization, and partnership facilitation. For more information, visit Castle Peak Advisors’ website at www.castlepeakadvisors.com or email Castle Peak Advisors at info@castlepeakadvisors.com.

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