



| Get Embedded in Austin — Where Digital Horsepower was Invented
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Greater Austin, a metropolitan region of 1.5 million people, is a North American leader in digital technologies for automotive connectivity and content. Austin’s technology expertise, location and ample supply of talent make Central Texas an ideal locus for automotive IT research, development and manufacturing.
“As cars become smarter and require more software and hardware, Austin and Silicon Valley are the two regions in the U.S. that will emerge as the leaders.” “Austin is a high-tech city with an attractive quality of life. It is an appealing environment for the innovators we need at Freescale.” “Singling out one reason why TASUS Texas located in the Greater Austin area is difficult, there are so many good ones. Top on the list is the regional character of the Greater Austin Chamber giving TASUS many different communities to choose from in one stop.” |
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| The Brain in Your Car Comes from Austin | |
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Round Rock-based Cypress Semiconductor produces
integrated circuits and chips used in engine controls, sensors, and various SRAM applications.
Austin-based Freescale Semiconductor’s PowerPC chip is the most pervasive automotive semiconductor in the world. The world-class voice recognition software for GM OnStar was developed by IBM’s telematics architects in Austin. They also co-designed the PowerPC chip. Austin’s Manning NavComp designs vehicle tracking software and integration solutions for commercial fleets. Austin is the North American home of France’s Bluetooth technology giant Parrot, whose products include chipsets, algorithms, and protocol stacks for OEMs and partner suppliers. |
Silicon Laboratories, mixed-signal ICs, including MCUs and
satellite radio tuners, are used in a variety of automotive
applications including XM Radio.
SMSC NA Automotive, whose Austin operations include an
engineering design center, is a leading provider of MOST Spansion, spun off from AMD and Fujitsu, is a global leader in flash memory chip fabrication, an essential component in automotive, wireless, and consumer electronics technologies. Austin’s Venkel is a leading supplier of surface mount passive components used in automotive electronics. |
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| Workforce
Young. Creative. Productive. The Central Texas workforce is among the most productive
in the United States. Out of 363 metropolitan areas in the
U.S., Austin ranks tenth in value added per production worker Educational Attainment of Persons 25 Years or Older, 2006 |
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| Source: Bureau of the Census. | |
Migrating talent from around the nation and world has helped
bring metro Austin’s population to over 1.5 million. The 1990s
saw a 48% increase in population — some of the fastest Employment in High Tech Industries |
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| 2006 | |
| High tech manufacturing | 34,942 |
| Computers & peripherals wholesalers | 18,949 |
| High tech information & other IT | 28,177 |
| Engineering, R&D, & labs/testing | 17,975 |
| Total | 100,042 |
| Source: Texas Workforce Commission. | |
Workforce Training Resources |
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| Education
Within a 100-mile radius of Austin you’ll find 39 colleges and
universities — including the University of Texas at Austin, one
of America’s largest and a world-class research institution. UT Austin’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department has ranked in the top 10 in the country for more than a decade. UT and other area institutions cooperate closely with local industry on both workforce training and research. Colleges & Universities in the Austin Metro Area |
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| Enrollment Fall 2006 |
Graduates, yr. ending June 2006 | |||||
| Assoc | Bach | Mast | PhD | 1st Prof | ||
| Four-Year Colleges & Universities | ||||||
| The University of Texas, Austin | 49,738 | 8,942 | 2,829 | 796 | 647 | |
| Texas State University, San Marcos | 27,503 | 4,517 | 1,051 | 15 | ||
| St. Edward’s University, Austin | 5,224 | 734 | 293 | |||
| Southwestern University, Georgetown | 1,277 | 298 | ||||
| Concordia University, Austin | 1,266 | 21 | 155 | 32 | ||
| Huston-Tillotson University, Austin | 742 | 80 | ||||
| Community Colleges | ||||||
| Austin Community College | 31,585 | 1,063 | ||||
| Temple College, Taylor Center | 671 | NA | ||||
| Grand Total | 118,006 | 1,085 | 14,728 | 4,205 | 811 | 647 |
| Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board & U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. | ||||||
Degrees Awarded in Select Science Fields, Austin Metro Area Institutions, Year Ending June 2005 |
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| Bachelor's | Master's | Doctoral | ||
| Computer & IS | 416 | 102 | 13 | |
| Engineering | 917 | 454 | 145 | |
| Physical sciences | 187 | 56 | 70 | |
| Total | 1,520 | 612 | 228 | |
| Source: National Center for Education Statistics. | ||||
| Additionally, area community colleges and trade and technical schools award hundreds of certificates and associates degrees annually in an array of technical and precision production-related programs. | ||||
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| Innovation
The University of Texas at Austin alone supports more than 90 organized research units, and Austin is also home to the celebrated SEMATECH research consortium. Some of the groundbreaking work being done in Austin includes: Microelectronics, Wireless, Semiconductors & Software Center for Electro Mechanics (UT Austin) — Research in high specific power electromechanical devices, energy storage systems, electric vehicle suspensions and vehicle power management systems. The center has joined with Texas Energy Conservation Office and other agencies to organize the Texas Electric Vehicle Program. Embedded Signal Processing Laboratory (UT Austin) — Conducts cutting edge research in embedded real-time signal and image processing systems. Microelectronics Research Center (UT Austin) — A
NSF/NNIN-funded research laboratory contributing to
advancements in microelectronic devices, integrated circuits, SEMATECH — Conducts state-of-the-art research into new materials, processes, and equipment for semiconductor manufacturing. Wireless Networking & Communications Group (UT Austin) — One of the nation’s largest wireless research labs conducts
applied research in propagation and antennas, sensor and Computational Research Computer Architecture & Technology Laboratory (UT
Austin) — A leader in the area of microprocessor architecture,
workload characterization, native signal processing and Computer Engineering Research Center (UT Austin) — One of the leading research centers in the country for design and testing of VLSI, fault-tolerant systems, sequential synthesis, binary decision diagrams, timed/stochastic systems, distributed systems, computer architecture, and software engineering. Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences (UT Austin) — An interdisciplinary research center for computational sciences and engineering, mathematical modeling, applied mathematics, and software engineering. Materials & Manufacturing Research Advanced Manufacturing Center (UT Austin) — Coordinates
research and education in manufacturing and materials
processing including design, control, materials, measurements, Advanced Materials Research Center (SEMATECH) —
Focuses on creating leading-edge materials and capabilities
for next-generation semiconductors, as well as cutting edge Center for Materials Chemistry (UT Austin) — Brings the strengths of synthetic, analytical and physical chemistry to bear on problems related to solid materials. High Performance Systems Research Group (UT Austin) — Conducts theoretical and applied research in high performance substrates. Texas Materials Institute (UT Austin) — promotes interdisciplinary research in the area of materials. Mechanical Engineering, Energy & Combustion Research Center for Energy & Environmental Resources (UT Austin) — Focuses on efficient and economical use of energy and on ensuring a cleaner environment by developing, in cooperation with industry, processes and technologies that minimize waste and conserve natural resources. Formula SAE (UT Austin) — The collegiate design competition
was started in 1981 with four teams competing at UT Austin;
today the Formula SAE competition draws more than 100 General Motors Foundation Automotive Research Laboratories (UT Austin) — Conducts research in alternative fuels, emissions control, engine modeling, and IC engines. Thermal/Fluids Systems Group (UT Austin) — Conducts research on numerical simulation of turbulence, viscous and hypersonic flow and more. |
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| Infrastructure
The Austin region has the infrastructure — the physical,
intellectual, and financial capital — to compete globally for
investment and job creation. Austin boasts proven telecommunications, Favorable Real Estate Market As of first quarter 2007, Austin had nearly 8 million square feet of vacant office space and a 12% office vacancy rate. An additional 5 million square feet of inventory is under construction. The industrial market offers over 7 million square feet of vacant space, including clean room space, and a 10% vacancy rate. Ample Class A space is available in a vibrant downtown as well as a variety of suburban markets. In addition, the area has several campus-style facilities that are available for lease. The Greater Austin Chamber can help your company locate the site that fits your needs. |
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| Location
The Austin area is an ideal location for OEMs and manufacturing
suppliers. A prime example of this is TASUS Corporation’s
recent location to Georgetown, TX. TASUS is a Tier 1 and Tier 2 Located on the U.S./Mexico/Canada trade route, or the I-35 NAFTA Corridor, Austin is between two developing OEM and Tier I supplier markets: San Antonio (Toyota) and Arlington/Dallas (GM). Austin is also within a one day drive of parts and assembly plants in Mexico. The southern edge of the Austin metro is intersected by east-west I-10. Austin is linked to the world by a modern international airport
served by 11 major airlines, over 300 daily arrivals and departures
and direct flights to 99 destinations including six foreign cities. Non-stop Jet Destinations 2007 |
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Interstate System Near Austin |
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| Cost Advantage
Texas consistently ranks as one of the nation’s most favorable business climates. In Texas, aggregate costs for real estate, energy, wages and taxes are below most states in the country. Cost of Living Cost of Living Index, 1st Quarter 2006 |
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| Source: ACCRA. |
Low Tax Burden State & Local Tax Burden Per Capita, 2004 |
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| Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. |
Competitive Labor Costs Average Annual Salaries, May 2006 |
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| All Occupa- tions |
Business & financial | Computer & math | Engine- ering & arch. |
Office | Produc- tion |
Transp & material moving |
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| Austin | $39,910 | $57,790 | $71,570 | $64,680 | $30,940 | $28,140 | $25,390 |
| Chicago | 43,430 | 65,870 | 71,410 | 65,940 | 32,670 | 30,220 | 33,130 |
| Detroit | 46,670 | 71,030 | 73,360 | NA | 33,310 | 41,910 | 40,810 |
| Indianapolis | 38,250 | 55,660 | 63,190 | 60,670 | 30,270 | 32,750 | 29,620 |
| Lexington | 36,110 | 49,620 | 55,310 | 63,510 | 29,030 | 34,260 | 28,610 |
| Nashville | 36,970 | 54,280 | 57,680 | 56,170 | 30,090 | 31,650 | 28,280 |
| San Jose | 59,990 | 74,740 | 94,590 | 90,670 | 39,770 | 36,440 | 30,610 |
| Toledo | 36,640 | 52,360 | 55,140 | 60,730 | 28,630 | 34,110 | 29,700 |
| U.S. | 39,190 | 60,000 | 69,240 | 66,190 | 30,370 | 30,480 | 29,460 |
| Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) . Note: Wage and salary estimates for detailed occupations are also available from the OES wage survey. (Nearly 500 unique occupations are reported for Austin.) The BLS also publishes an alternative occupational wage survey, called the National Compensation Survey, for Austin and other metropolitan areas that provides additional types of compensation measures. |
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| Incentives for Emerging Technologies
The Emerging Technology Fund (ETF), along with other incentives programs such as the Texas Enterprise Fund, provides financial benefits to semiconductor businesses creating high quality new jobs in Texas. The goal of ETF is to expedite innovation and commercialization of research and increase higher education applied technology research capabilities in the state. A variety of state and local tax exemption and tax credit programs are also available. green energy industries. |
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| Quality of Life
What better balance can a city offer than being both the 'Best Place for Business and Careers' and the 'Live Music Capital of the World'? Austin pleases all in rankings ranging from 'Best City for Relocating Families' to 'Best Cities for Singles'. Other assessments consistently recognize the region as among the most inventive, creative, wired, rockin', educated, fit and loved.
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