ROCHESTER HILLS, MI—FANUC America Corp. recently established a $1 million scholarship with the SME Education Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to foster the next generation of skilled professionals in advanced manufacturing and automation.

Over the next four years, the FANUC Automation Endowed Scholarship Fund will bestow annual scholarships totaling at least $50,000 to deserving students in the United States and Canada who are pursuing careers in manufacturing.

“[We have] always believed in the power of education and its pivotal role in shaping the future,” says Mike Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America. “Early on, we recognized the demand for advanced skills and it led us to establish our Certified Education program. Now, through our new scholarship initiative, we continue to champion education, and help empower the next generation to learn, innovate and fuel the growth of manufacturing in North America.”

According to Paul Aiello, executive director of education at FANUC America, the manufacturing industry faces the critical challenge of a projected 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030 due to a shortage of skilled labor. “By increasing our investment in education and training, we can help bridge this gap,” he points out. “[Our] scholarship fund aims to alleviate the financial burden of post-secondary education and create a robust pipeline of talent for the automation workforce.”