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The University of �鶹������ý at Lafayette and its partners have secured nearly $25 million in federal support for four major initiatives focused on workforce development, advanced research, public safety and national security and defense.

The funding was included in FY26 federal appropriations approved by Congress and signed by the president. The appropriations support projects led or co-led by �鶹������ý Lafayette alongside federal agencies, industry and higher education partners. Funding will be administered through these collaborative arrangements.

They include:

• $5 million for the Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Training Center to support the development of the next generation of chips.
• $2.5 million to enhance Bio-Safety Level 3 capabilities at the New Iberia Research Center to advance research and therapies against infectious diseases.
• $12 million for an Autonomous Recovery from Cyber Attacks (ARC) joint research initiative to advance national security and defense priorities.
• $5 million designated for the PHMSA National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety to support innovation and talent development for the industry.

Together, these appropriations strengthen �鶹������ý’s workforce pipeline, expand the University’s research capacity and reinforce its role as a partner to industry, government and communities across the state and region. The projects received support from �鶹������ý’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins and U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy.

“We are grateful to �鶹������ý’s congressional delegation for their leadership and advocacy on behalf of these transformative projects and, ultimately, on behalf of �鶹������ý’s future,” said �鶹������ý Lafayette Interim President Dr. Ramesh Kolluru. “Their belief in our mission and support for applied research and workforce development enables us to expand targeted initiatives that strengthen �鶹������ý’s economy, advance national priorities and position the University for long-term impact.”

Project Details

Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Training Center — $5 million
Funding will support the establishment of a semiconductor manufacturing training and research facility on �鶹������ý Lafayette’s campus, in partnership with South �鶹������ý Community College and other stakeholders. �鶹������ý Lafayette has committed a 12,000-square-foot facility and invested $1.25 million to launch the center, designed to meet �鶹������ý’s workforce needs, support major industry investments such as First Solar and recruit the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing companies to �鶹������ý.

New Iberia Research Center Bio-Safety Level 3 Enhancement — $2.5 million
Funding will be used to expand and upgrade the BSL-3 facility to support research involving select agents that threaten U.S. public health. Enhancements include wastewater effluent decontamination, expanded security systems, upgraded access controls, organic waste disposal infrastructure and secure aerobiology delivery systems. The upgrades strengthen national biosecurity research capacity while ensuring compliance with federal safety standards.

Autonomous Recovery from Cyber Attacks (ARC) — $12 million
The ARC initiative is a joint research project with Radiance Technologies, focused on developing technologies that enable systems to autonomously recover from cyberattacks. Funding for the project will be shared between �鶹������ý Lafayette and Radiance Technologies. The partnership reflects a broader strategy to expand �鶹������ý Lafayette’s defense-related research portfolio and strengthen long-term federal partnerships supporting national security, resilience and advanced applied research.

PHMSA National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety — $5 million
The appropriation includes $4.2 million designated for the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety and $800,000 intended to support the center’s Academic Research Consortium, co-led by �鶹������ý Lafayette in partnership with McNeese State, Southern and Texas A&M universities. The initiative advances research, training and best practices related to liquefied natural gas (LNG) safety and transportation.