The semiconductor industry is one of three primary technology clusters in Richardson. The history of this industry in Richardson started in the 1950s with Texas Instrument’s arrival to Richardson. Since then, the industry has massively expanded, thanks to an agglomeration of high-tech businesses in the Telecom Corridor area.
Evidenced by the Telecom Corridor Area’s name, Richardson has a rich history with the telecom industry. It all started in 1951, when Collin’s Radio opened its doors in Richardson and, along with TI, it attracted thousands of engineers.
The financial services industry in Richardson encompasses more than purely finance, from marketing sales management, to IT and data analytics, this industry is formed by a broad range of disciplines to provide economic services to its clients.
The Richardson aerospace and defense cluster involves many technologies, but the endusers are often the same. The major players in Richardson are Raytheon (cybersecurityand optical lenses), Collins Aerospace(communications, avionics and technologiesrelated to the electronic battlefield) and Boeing (special programs for DoD, DARPA).
Company headquarters locations rely on access to a large and diverse base of talented business professionals. Multiple studies have shown that access to a highly educated labor force within a 30-minute commute of Richardson is unsurpassed in DFW.Then too, for company executives and customers, access by air is a key consideration. Both DFW Airport with daily non-stop flights to US and global destinations and Dallas Love Field are within
less than 30 minutes of Richardson as are the private airports housing business fleets at Addison and McKinney National Airports.

