“[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.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with FANUC America to support the next generation of manufacturing leaders and we would like to recognize them for leading by example in this forward-thinking initiative,” adds Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. “This endowed scholarship fund will play a crucial role in building a skilled automation and advanced manufacturing workforce, and aligns with our mission to inspire, prepare and support the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent.”