Place
Within the emerging tech hub of Austin, the Cockrell School will be the place where companies develop new technology, governments solve the biggest problems and the worldwide research community converges. We are committed to improving our engineering campus, making it welcoming to all communities and partners who want to be involved in world-changing innovation.
Pathways to Impact
- Build a series of destination facilities with cutting-edge equipment that serve our faculty and students and also attract industry and government partners
- Create community around core research that fosters commercialization efforts
- Simplify processes for external partnerships and incentivize community-based work
- Redevelop our engineering campus and operations to eliminate barriers to collaboration and encourage cooperation and conversation
- Host the world’s leading researchers to expand our collective perspective
Kickoff 23-24: Progress and Updates
Engineering Discovery Building
Opening in 2026, the Engineering Discovery Building will become the new multidisciplinary home of the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. The facility will feature open lab space designed to encourage collaboration, modern classrooms and a variety of office and meeting spaces.
Launch Texas
Started in 2021, Launch Texas will serve as the catalyst that brings together academia, the startup community and industry to create an ecosystem of aerospace innovation in Austin. The program includes a new space tech graduate specialization for master’s students, increased support for aerospace research and a partnership with Texas Innovation Center to commercialize research.
Amazon Science Hub
The UT Austin-Amazon Science Hub aims to advance research that prompts new discoveries and addresses significant societal challenges in areas such as video streaming, search and information retrieval and robotics. The partnership includes funding for research projects, doctoral graduate student fellowships and community-building events designed to diversify and increase cross-disciplinary innovation.
Find Your Place in the Plan
Several faculty and staff have stepped up to become Pathway Leaders for the plan. To find out more or get involved, contact the Dean’s Office.
We’re looking for stories of the many courageous engineers in our community. Know one? Reach out and tell us about them.