IBM says it will invest $100 million in 13 Black colleges, including VSU, for quantum tech

Virginia State University is one of several historically black colleges and universities that stands to benefit from an IBM-driven initiative designed to create a more diverse quantum workforce.

The business-technology giant said Thursday it plans to invest $100 million in resources, equipment and skills development at VSU and 12 other HBCUs through the IBM Skills Academy. The grant will cover guest lectures, curriculum development, digital badges, software and faculty training,

IBM said it hopes to have the grants in place by the end of this year.

“We believe that in order to expand opportunity for diverse populations, we need a diverse talent pipeline of the next generation of tech leaders from HBCUs," Carla Grant Pickens, IBM's chief global diversity and inclusion officer, said in a company statement. "Diversity and inclusion is what fuels innovation and students from HBCUs will be positioned to play a significant part of what will drive innovations for the future like quantum computing, cloud and artificial intelligence."

In addition to VSU, other HBCUs that will take part in the Skills Academy include Hampton and Norfolk State universities in Virginia' and North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Johnson C. Smith and Fayetteville State universities in North Carolina.

In a statement released by VSU, Dr. Dawit Haile, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, expressed appreciation to IBM for the participation.

“This initiative helps Virginia State University to further accomplish parts of our strategic goals by providing resources that help us enhance academic programs to effectively prepare our leaders and scholars to meet the demands of a global society and workforce," Haile said in the statement.

IBM said it also has developed a Quantum Center to boost access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics at select HBCUs, including Virginia Union University in Richmond and Hampton University.

“Diversity is a source of competitive advantage, essential to create a thriving quantum industry,” Dario Gil, IBM's research director, said in the company statement. “We could not be more excited about partnering with our HBCU colleagues to help educate and empower the first generation of quantum computing native students and researchers.”

You can reach Bill Atkinson at batkinson@progress-index.com. Follow him at @BAtkinson_PI. Follow The Progress-Index on Twitter at @ProgressIndex.

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