University leaders urge Texas to consider a statewide 'Texas Science Foundation' to boost research competitiveness

University presidents and research leaders told the Committee that Texas can do more to convert federal opportunity into sustained research capacity. Dr. Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso, summarized federal funding trends and recommended tactical and strategic steps ranging from pooled compliance capacity for small universities to an audacious idea: a Texas Science Foundation that would fund peer‑reviewed basic and applied research and expand graduate fellowships.

"Maybe it is time to establish the Texas Science Foundation to step in, step up, and lead," Wilson said, describing how a state entity could fund curiosity‑driven and use‑inspired research while leveraging federal peer review. Drew Shevberly of the National Security Innovation Council and others proposed complementary steps including improved tech transfer, a Texas Federal Intelligence Research Council to anticipate federal funding shifts, and Governor/legislative leadership to ramp a state effort.

Why it matters: Witnesses argued that if federal priorities shift, an amplified and coordinated state research apparatus could protect Texas' long-term competitiveness, expand workforce pipelines (graduate fellowships), and ensure the state’s research investments translate into jobs and critical infrastructure projects.

Attribution: Direct quotes and policy proposals come from panelists who introduced themselves on the record.