Quantum Center part of broader HBCU investment, including additional $100M in Skills Academy technology, assets, resources and skills development
Today, IBM is announcing its first IBMQuantum education and research initiative for Historically BlackColleges and Universities (HBCU), aimed at driving a diverse and inclusivequantum workforce. Led by Howard University and 12 additional HBCUs, theIBM-HBCU Quantum Center will offer access to its quantum computers, aswell as collaboration on academic, education, and community outreach programs.
In addition, as part of the company’scontinued efforts around diversity and inclusion, IBM will make a $100Minvestment in technology, assets, resources and skillsdevelopment through partnerships with additional HBCUsthrough the IBM Skills Academy Academic Initiative.
“We believe that in order to expandopportunity for diverse populations, we need a diverse talent pipeline of thenext generation of tech leaders from HBCUs. Diversity and inclusion is whatfuels innovation and students from HBCUswill be positioned to play a significant part of what will drive innovationsfor the future like quantum computing, cloud and artificial intelligence,” said Carla Grant Pickens, Chief Global Diversity &Inclusion Officer, IBM.
Driving Diversity and Inclusion in QuantumComputing
The IBM-HBCU Quantum Center is amulti-year investment designed to prepare and develop talent at HBCUs from all STEM disciplines forthe quantum future. It will emphasize the power of community andfocus on developing students through support and funding for researchopportunities, curriculum development, workforce advocacy, and specialprojects.
“Diversity is a source of competitiveadvantage, essential to create a thriving quantum industry,” said Dario Gil,Director of IBM Research. “We could not be more excited about partnering withour HBCU colleagues to help educate and empower the first generation of quantumcomputing native students and researchers.”
The 13 HBCUs intending to participate in theQuantum Center were prioritized based on their research and educationfocus in physics, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and other STEMfields. They include: Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, CoppinState University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College,Morgan State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical StateUniversity, Southern University, Texas Southern University, University of theVirgin Islands, Virginia Union University, and Xavier University ofLouisiana.
“Howard University has prioritized our effortsto support our students’ pathway to STEM fields for many years with excitingresults as we witness more and more graduates becoming researchers, scientistsand engineers with renown national companies. Our faculty and students lookforward to collaborating with our peer institutions through the IBM-HBCUQuantum Center. We’re excited to share best practices and work together toprepare students to participate in a quantum-ready workforce,” said PresidentWayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA.
For more about the IBM-HBCU Quantum Center,read HBCU Center Driving Diversityand Inclusion in Quantum Computing.
Investing in Under-Represented Talent to DriveInnovation
As part of the Skills Academy AcademicInitiative in Global University Programs, a multi-year program, IBM is donatingmore than $100M in assets, including university guests lectures,curriculum content, digital badges, software and faculty training to selectHBCUs by the end of 2020.The IBM Skills Academy is a comprehensive,integrated program designed to create a foundation of diverse and highdemand skill sets that directly correlate to what students will need in theworkplace. The learning tracks address topics such as artificialintelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, design thinking and quantum computing.
The HBCUs who are part ofthe Skills Academy Academic Initiativeinclude: Clark Atlanta University, Fayetteville StateUniversity, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Howard University,Johnson C. Smith University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&TState University, North Carolina Central University, Southern UniversitySystem, Stillman College, Virginia State and West Virginia StateUniversity.
The response to combating systemic racism inthe US must be timely, strategic and more than a statement of support. Theresponse needs to be tangible action. IBM’s investment in HBCUs is part ofthe company’s efforts around social justice and racial equality by creatingequitable, innovative experiences for HBCU students to acquire the necessaryskills to unlock economic opportunity and prosperity.To learn more about IBM’s 100 years of work ondiversity, inclusion and equality in the workplace, visit https://www.ibm.com/employment/inclusion/
