When I think about what it means to be a good neighbor, a few qualities come to mind: reliable, transparent, trustworthy, friendly and respectful. As the chief people officer at Intel, I must ensure that even though we are one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, those qualities are evident in our actions from the moment we join a community.
To support the ever-increasing demand for semiconductors and help rebalance the global supply chain, Intel has made commitments to invest globally, including construction underway in Ohio, our newly opened expansion in Ireland, investments in Germany and Poland, plus expansions at long-standing sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Israel and Malaysia.
Whether Intel has been in a community for 50 years or is just breaking ground, we’re committed to being a good corporate citizen and creating shared value for our company, our global supply chain and our neighbors. That’s why we focus on building meaningful relationships through investing in education and workforce development, supporting employee volunteer efforts and matching donations, and implementing sustainable practices.
Investing in Education
Investing in education is the best way to support the talent pipeline. In Ohio, we’re already working with schools, colleges and universities to train the next generation of engineers and technicians. This includes K-12 science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) programs, collaborative research projects, and semiconductor-specific curricula for associate and undergraduate degree programs. We also made a $50 million commitment over the next decade in partnership with Ohio universities, community colleges and other institutions.
And we know how important it is that our educational endeavors extend to K-12. Intel is providing funding to launch the Khanmigo AI tutor and teaching assistant, developed by Khan Academy. This technology benefits middle and high school students in select Ohio school districts by providing tailored math and science tutoring for students and AI assistance for teachers in lesson planning and assessments. In 2020, the Intel Foundation and partners also launched the Million Girls Moonshot to expand the inclusive pipeline of talent for the semiconductor industry through innovative education initiatives for girls and underrepresented groups. In Ohio, Million Girls Moonshot and the Ohio Afterschool Network aim to close the digital divide and double the number of Ohio youth engaged in STEAM learning by 2025 by reimagining who can engineer, build and invent.
Developing the Workforce
Part of Intel’s corporate responsibility strategy includes growing digital readiness. We’re dedicated to building the future workforce by collaborating with 30 country governments and 30,000 institutions worldwide to empower more than 30 million people with AI skills for current and future jobs by 2030.
QuickStart, a pilot program in partnership with nonprofits and community colleges in Oregon and Arizona, aims to support the semiconductor industry’s growing employment needs and spark interest in new career pathways among under resourced communities. QuickStart helps introduce students to a rewarding career as a semiconductor technician through an accelerated two-week program that includes both lecture and hands-on learning. Guided by our 2030 goals, we’re continually looking at ways to bring the best talent to Intel.
Zooming in on our expanding Arizona campus, we can see how developing these skills translates to jobs. Intel has more than 13,000 employees in the state and the Arizona expansion is projected to generate more than 3,000 high-wage, high-tech Intel jobs. Our expansion will also support 5,000 construction jobs and an estimated 17,000 indirect jobs in the local community.
Volunteering in the Community
Donating time and money has a profound impact on tackling the issues that matter most. Intel and the Intel Foundation support employee volunteer efforts and match eligible donations. Over the past five years, Intel, the Intel Foundation and Intel employees have given more than $6.5 million to support New Mexico schools and nonprofits. Our New Mexico employees have also volunteered more than 65,000 hours at local schools and nonprofits since 2018.
In Europe, employees in the Silicon Isle echo that same philanthropic spirit. When we opened Fab 34 in Leixlip, Ireland, we also announced a 1 million euro donation for a community project, emphasizing the importance of local partnership. Additionally, employees in Ireland are actively donating their time, volunteering more than 170,000 hours in 2022. The Intel Involved Matching Grant Program has contributed more than 11 million euros to organizations in Ireland over the past 15 years, benefiting charities, sporting clubs, animal sanctuaries and others.
Eastward in Europe, in Magdeburg, Germany, where we’re planning to build a new site, employees got involved in the community in September by painting walls and building benches for the more than 120 children of the Ohana kindergarten, most of them from refugee families. Regardless of site location, Intel employees are dedicated to giving back to the community.
Committing to Sustainable Practices
Part of being a good neighbor means being a good steward of the environment. Even as we grow our footprint, we remain committed to our goals to achieve net positive water, 100% renewable electricity and zero waste to landfills by 2030; net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across our operations by 2040; and net-zero upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Leixlip’s Fab 34 was designed with sustainability at the forefront, with a 9-to-1 ratio of heat generated by heat recovery to heat generated by traditional methods in the buildings. Further, most of the cement used was characterized as low carbon. Our Leixlip campus also serves as an exemplary model of our sustainability efforts with 88% of its water returned to the River Liffey; plus, in 2022, only 0.6% of total campus waste went to a landfill.
As we continue to expand operations worldwide, our commitments remain the same. We are unwavering in our promise to prioritize relationships with the local communities, so we can be the type of company that any community would welcome as a neighbor.
Christy Pambianchi is executive vice president and chief people officer at Intel Corporation.