As Intel® breaks ground for its Ohio semiconductor manufacturing plant, a new higher education partnership launches to help train the state's tech hub workforce.
Baldwin Wallace University is joining a network of 14 Ohio higher education institutions to prepare the workforce for the state's future advanced semiconductor and microelectronics industry, which provides components for devices like cell phones, laptops, appliances, gaming consoles and more.
Intel is announcing the grant support for eight such Ohio educational collaborations as the company breaks ground today for its semiconductor manufacturing plant in New Albany, Ohio, with President Joe Biden and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expected to be on hand.
The BW group, led by Kent State University, will be part of the Intel Semiconductor Education and Research Program for Ohio.
The program is part of the company's investment of $100 million in education and research collaborations with universities, community colleges and technical educators in Ohio and across the U.S., with $50 million designated to Ohio colleges and universities.
"Moving forward, BW will join our partners to develop innovative research, teaching and applied learning experiences that best support Intel and the industry's workforce needs," said BW President Bob Helmer. "Working together, we can build a more powerful, comprehensive effort to fuel the much-needed growth in the domestic semiconductor and microelectronics industry."
Dr. Jim McCargar, associate dean of the BW School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing, who, along with Dr. Jennifer Kadlowec, chair of the department of engineering, serves as the BW liaison to the Kent State-led partnership, expects that "this initiative will provide unique educational and experiential opportunities for BW students."
Intel expects this first round of the program to produce nearly 9,000 graduates for the industry and provide more than 2,300 scholarships over three years to "address immediate semiconductor manufacturing technical challenges and workforce shortages."
"At Intel, we strongly believe that investing in education is necessary to ensure we have the right talent to support our growth and help the U.S. regain leadership in semiconductor manufacturing," said Christy Pambianchi, Intel executive vice president and chief people officer.
"Intel is committed to preparing America's workforce with the technology skills needed now and into the future."
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