Intel, NSF to Invest $150M in Semiconductor Education, Research and Workforce Development

Over the next decade, Intel will partner with universities, community colleges and technical educators across the United States to establish semiconductor manufacturing education and research collaborations, bolster the workforce and tackle technical challenges in the industry. Together with the National Science Foundation, it has pledged $150 million toward the effort: The company will invest $50 million directly in Ohio higher education institutions and $50 million (matched by an additional $50 million from the NSF) in national funding opportunities.

A key goal is to "establish comprehensive and collaborative programs with higher education institutions to accelerate readiness and enable the workforce needed for operations of [Intel's] new semiconductor fabrication facilities and of ecosystem partners," the company explained in a news announcement. Investments will go toward creating new curricula, certifications, faculty training reskill and upskill programs for the existing workforce, laboratory equipment upgrades and more.

"In the past year, Intel has announced manufacturing investments that will create 6,700 high-tech, U.S. jobs, including 3,000 in Ohio. Intel is on a mission to lead domestic chip capacity and capability growth, and for this, we need the very best talent available," said Keyvan Esfarjani, executive vice president and chief global operations officer for Intel, in a statement. "That is why Intel is investing in educational and research programs in Ohio and across the U.S. to address the technical challenges and workforce shortages in our industry."

"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," added Christy Pambianchi, Intel executive vice president and chief people officer. "Our goal is to bring these programs and opportunities to a variety of two-year and four-year colleges, universities and technical programs, because it is critical that we expand and diversify STEM education. Intel is committed to preparing America's workforce with the technology skills needed now and into the future."

For more information, visit the Intel site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • computer with a red warning icon on its screen, surrounded by digital grids, glowing neural network patterns, and a holographic brain

    Report Highlights Security Risks of Open Source AI

    In these days of rampant ransomware and other cybersecurity exploits, security is paramount to both proprietary and open source AI approaches — and here the open source movement might be susceptible to some inherent drawbacks, such as use of possibly insecure code from unknown sources.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • a professional worker in business casual attire interacting with a large screen displaying a generative AI interface in a modern office

    Study: Generative AI Could Inhibit Critical Thinking

    A new study on how knowledge workers engage in critical thinking found that workers with higher confidence in generative AI technology tend to employ less critical thinking to AI-generated outputs than workers with higher confidence in personal skills.

  • university building with classical columns and a triangular roof displayed on a computer screen, surrounded by minimalist tech elements like circuit lines and abstract digital shapes

    Pima Community College Launches New Portal for a Unified Digital Campus Experience

    Arizona's Pima Community College is elevating the digital campus experience for students, faculty, and staff with a new portal built on the Pathify digital engagement platform.