Target Industry Clusters
Across the diverse geography of Texas, our state specializes in its own unique array of advanced industries, where specific infrastructure and industry knowledge has developed and continues to evolve.
The industries across the Lone Star State allow companies and their workforce boundless opportunities for success.
Advanced Manufacturing
The Lone Star State is a leader in the advanced technology and manufacturing sectors of the economy. Texas is home to all segments of this industry including, but not limited to: computer and electronic products; electrical equipment, appliance, and components; motor vehicles, bodies, trailers, and parts; food and beverage products; textile, apparel and leather products; petroleum, chemical and coal products.
Texas is no stranger to large corporations, especially those specializing in advanced technology and manufacturing. Texas Instruments, National Instruments, Samsung, GM, Toyota, Peterbilt, Raytheon, NXP, AMD, Applied Materials, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, Fujitsu, BAE Systems, and Ultra Electronics Advanced Tactical Systems are just some of the leading companies with headquarters or a significant presence in Texas.
Logistically, the central location of Texas is unmatched, with a complete infrastructure, easily allowing companies to import and export products. We have multiple interstate highways, international airports, seaports, railways and international border crossings. With our excellent workforce, fair legal system, low taxes, and quality of life, it is no wonder so many domestic and international companies have chosen Texas as their home and the best place to do business.
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense
Texas is one of the most important locations for the global aerospace and aviation industry in the nation. As home to two international airlines, two of the world’s busiest airports, 15 active military bases, and NASA’s world-famous Johnson Space Center, Texas is a key location for many of the largest global aerospace and aviation companies.
The broad range of aerospace activities in Texas includes fighter planes and helicopter assembly, navigation instrument development, advanced space-flight research, military pilot training and commercial space travel.
Geographically, this industry has a substantial presence in many regions of the state. In North Texas, the Dallas-Fort Worth region boasts the state’s largest concentration of aerospace manufacturing workers, as well as the headquarters of American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. San Antonio, sometimes referred to as “Military City, USA” is home to tens of thousands of U.S. Air Force personnel and is a major national hub for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
On the Gulf Coast, Houston is the legendary home to NASA mission control and dozens of related spaceflight contractor firms. Elsewhere in the state, one of the world’s largest helicopter repair facilities resides in Corpus Christi, while the cities of Amarillo, El Paso, Harlingen, McAllen, Waco and Wichita Falls all support manufacturing facilities for various Fortune 500 aerospace companies. Major Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) have locations in Texas providing sales and service for their general aviation (GA) and business aviation (BA) customers.
Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee
Biotechnology & Life Sciences
Home to thousands of life science and research firms, Texas is one of the leading life science states in the country. Top Fortune 500 companies such as Kimberly-Clark, McKesson and Celanase are based in Texas, while top global industry leaders such as Galderma, Novartis, Abbott, Allergan, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic, among others, have major operations in the state.
Texas’ highly trained workforce, top-tier research institutions and business-friendly climate strengthens the state’s status as a global life science industry leader. The Lone Star State is home to the world’s largest medical center, the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the world’s largest children’s hospital, the Texas Children’s Hospital, and the world’s largest cancer hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Our state also has 13 medical universities and is continuing to expand its network with the upcoming addition of a new medical school at Sam Houston State University. In addition, the University of Texas Health Science Center announced plans for a new school in Tyler. The Dell Medical School at the University of Texas—Austin is the first MD-training institution in nearly 50 years to be built from the ground up at a top-tier U.S. research university.
Energy
Since the discovery of the Spindletop oilfield in 1901, Texas has been a leader the production of energy. Texas’ geography and natural resources, excellent transportation system, skilled labor force, and leadership in environmental research give the state an energy advantage.
The Lone Star State’s renewable energy potential is among the largest in the nation, with abundant wind, solar, and biomass resources found across the state’s geographically diverse regions. In recent years, Texas has built upon its energy experience and trained workforce to take the lead in renewable energy production and services. As a result, Texas has become the top state in wind generation capacity and biodiesel production.
Texas is the only mainland state with its own power grid, operated by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). We produce more electricity than any other state, generating almost twice as much as the second highest-producing state. The ERCOT grid serves about three-fourths of the state and is largely isolated from the interconnected power systems serving the eastern and western United States. This isolation means the ERCOT grid is not subject to FERC oversight and is, for the most part, dependent on its own resources to meet the state’s electricity needs.
Texas leads the nation in petroleum refining and chemical products production, while also being a global leader in the closely related petrochemical industry. Houston is not only considered the energy capital of the nation, but also a globally-central location for virtually every segment of the petroleum industry.
Chemical companies supply products that are used to make pharmaceuticals, computers, transportation, infrastructure and other everyday items. More than 50 percent of the total U.S. chemical production is produced and processed by Texas chemical manufacturers.
Key players in these industries can be found all over the state with ExxonMobil having a headquarters in Irving and their ExxonMobil Chemical having a headquarters in Spring. You can also find major operations of Valero, Western Refining, Dow, Eastman, and Westlake Chemical.
Information Technology
The information and computer technology industry has been flourishing in Texas for years with companies such as Dell, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, HP Enterprise Services, VCE, Cisco and National Instruments.
The Lone Star State is not only the birthplace of the hand-held calculator, which was invented by Texas Instruments in 1967, but it is also home one of the largest technology companies—Dell, founded by Michael Dell when he was a student at The University of Texas.
The universities in Texas and other educational institutions are heavily invested in research and development. Rice University, Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at Austin all have degree programs that help enhance the workforce in Texas.