Intel, established in the USA in 1968, the world leader in silicon-based technologies, develops new technologies and products to improve people’s life quality in working and social environments. The company, which has 79,800 employees worldwide as of December 26, 2009, pushes the limits of innovation in order to help people make their lives more exciting, happy and manageable.
Being aware of the importance of investment and R&D for the development and growth of countries as well as their competitiveness, Intel contributes to bringing up future engineers and scientists besides its main field of activity. As a part of its investments, Intel makes investments of USD 6 billion in R&D worldwide every year. Similarly, Intel allocates USD 100 million for education every year. In more than 50 countries in seven continents, Intel makes efforts to improve education, and enable teachers and students to take advantage of 21st century technologies and acquire 21st century skills with projects such as the Intel® Teach Program and Intel® Learn Program.
The leading education investments of Intel in Turkey are the Intel® Teach Program, in operation since 2003 and the Intel® Learn Program, in operation since 2005, which are conducted in cooperation with Ministry of National Education. Within the scope of the Intel® Teach Program, 150,000 teachers have been trained in government schools subordinate to the Ministry of National Education. Within the scope of the Intel® Learn Program, 50,000 students with limited access to technology at home and school have experienced computer-based education out of school hours.
Having been created with the cooperation of 150 universities in 34 countries worldwide, the Intel® Higher Education Program clears the way to first class research leadership, direct technology support and technology entrepreneurship skills for university students in order to allow the technology expertise and technology information gained to be transferred to local economies.
Technology, IT, R&D and innovativeness are of great importance to improve the competitive power of Turkey in the global arena. Intel Turkey acts upon the belief that it is necessary to be in close relations and cooperation with universities in order to enable technological development. Intel carries out many different projects, organizes entrepreneurship programs, and establishes labs at universities so that all universities and all young people meet the latest technologies and carry out R&D studies in technology using such technologies. Intel sends students to R&D labs in the USA for internship. Intel also supports universities to improve the curriculum working together with them. Joint projects have been carried out so far with many universities in Turkey including Middle East Technical University (METU), Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Bogazici University, Bilkent University, Anadolu University, Gazi University and Yeditepe University.
Recently, the company has made R&D investments in METU and Bilkent University in three different areas. The first investment includes supplying equipments worth of USD 2.5 million in order to improve R&D capabilities and production capacity of METU MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) Research and Application Center, which develops micro-sensors to be used in smart systems. METU MEMS Research Center has so far utilized six-inch silicon discs for the prototype sensors to be used in smart systems that can be applied in various fields such as defense, biomedical, telecommunication and white goods. However, thanks to the systems donated by Intel, the center will from now on be able to produce eight-inch silicon discs and increase its production capacity.
Intel also supports METU and Bilkent University for the implementation of two other important research projects. The first project is the Energy Efficiency Project that is intended to improve the energy efficiency in computers and extend battery life. With an agreement signed with METU Northern Cyprus Campus within the scope of this project, Intel supports the studies that are carried out for converting thermal and vibration energy to electrical energy, thus using new environmental energy sources in computers and extending battery life. The second project is the Polar Coding Project that aims to discover usage areas for polar codes with high performance and low complexity in next generation wireless communication systems.
These projects carried out with the support of Intel in METU and Bilkent University are expected to be a leap forward in science and technology and make a name for Turkey in the scientific world. With Intel’s support, these two projects, which are considered highly significant by the academic and scientific circles, are expected to go beyond theoretical research and turn into a research that is practically applicable in the industry.
Intel is planning to continue its support for universities and its joint projects with universities also in the upcoming period for improving R&D and innovation and carrying Turkey forward.