Huawei has been committed to supportin young talent for many years, both internationally and in Austria. For example, the joint Huawei and ÖJAB (Austrian Young Workers' Movement) residential scholarship celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. The knowledge transfer and networking programme "Seeds for the Future" for technically interested students is also entering its seventh round in 2021.
Now, the global technology company has launched another, entirely new scholarship: On yesterday's Huawei Innovation Day, the company announced the "Huawei Seeds for the Future Scholarship". With a sum of 220,000 euros, 56 students of the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) and Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) will be financially supported in their studies. The Austrian Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research, Dr. Heinz Faßmann, is also pleased about the international company's commitment to Austria: "The new scholarship of the global technology company Huawei for local young talents from the technical sector show the importance that Austria has in an increasingly global research sector. The funding amount is considerable, and I want to thank Huawei for this commitment. “
High potentials of today for a better tomorrow
As an international technology company, Huawei is aware of the issue of the shortage of skilled workers and therefore the promotion of young talent is a particular concern. During the scholarship, students at the TU Vienna are supported in the form of a digitalisation scholarship. Kurt Matyas, Vice Rector for Studies and Teaching at TU Vienna, describes: "TU Vienna students are the problem solvers of the future. In teaching and research, they are part of a digital environment that they shape and develop further and that ultimately benefits society. I am therefore very pleased about the additional support for our students, because digitisation brings a head start, but also additional costs."
At TU Graz, the focus of the Huawei programme is on Bachelor students from the fields of electrical engineering and information technology, computer science and biomedical engineering, mathematics, physics, and geodesy, as well as technical chemistry, process engineering and biotechnology. TU Graz Rector Harald Kainz is extremely pleased about Huawei's support: "The promotion of young talent has a long tradition at TU Graz. For example, Nikola Tesla, one of our greatest talents, also financed his studies at our university with a scholarship. The goal of our scholarship programmes then as now: to enable young talents to receive an education in science and technology - regardless of their financial situation. In this respect, the Huawei Seeds for the Future Initiative is an important investment in the future, because: It is these young people who will shape new technologies and thus the well-being of science, business and society."
"When we support our junior staff in their training, it not only ensures that we have well-trained specialists for the future in the information technology industry - it also strongly promotes cooperation and exchange with the students. In this way, both sides get fresh impulses and that in particular gives us a lot of pleasure," says Erich Manzer, Deputy CEO of Huawei Austria. "The fact that we were able to win two of the most renowned Austrian universities for our cooperation makes us particularly proud."
Europe-wide cooperation
As an international company, Huawei focuses on cooperation across national borders. For this reason, the Seeds for the Future Scholarship is not limited to Austria but is implemented in a total of 12 countries throughout Europe. With a total amount of 2.5 million euros, more than 500 students in the ICT sector will receive support from Huawei. Announcing the scholarship, Radosław Kędzia, Huawei Vice President for CEE & Nordic Countries, says: "With the launch of the Seeds for the Future Scholarship, we hope to reach many talented future experts and support the development of their careers. We will work with the best universities to foster the skills and potential of the next generation of European innovators, reaching more than 500 students in Austria and across Europe."
For more information, see the full press release from Huawei (in German only)
