Amazon encourages robotic innovation
Amazon seeks to inspire a new generation of robotics engineers with a grant program.
Amazon and FIRST, a non-profit technology mentoring program for children in grades K-12, will provide Amazon Future Engineer robotics grants to 100 schools across 21 states. Recipients will receive support to launch FIRST robotics teams, including teacher professional development to learn about robotics, $10,000 from Amazon to expand access to computer science education in their school, and a tour of a local Amazon fulfillment center. FIRST was founded by Dean Kamen, president of DEKA Research & Development and inventor of the Segway motor scooter.
Launched in November 2018, Amazon Future Engineer is a four-part childhood-to-career program that each year aims to inspire more than 10 million kids to explore computer science; provide over 100,000 young people in over 2,000 high schools access to intro or advanced placement computer science courses; award 100 students with four-year $10,000 scholarships, and offer guaranteed, paid Amazon internships to gain work experience.
Amazon Future Engineer is part of Amazon’s $50 million investment in computer science/STEM education. In addition, Amazon Future Engineer has donated more than $10 million to organizations that promote computer science/STEM education across the country.
“We can’t wait to bring thousands of students into Amazon’s fulfillment centers to show them the amazing technology operating behind the scenes,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO consumer worldwide, Amazon. “These students are the innovators of the future, and we’re confident that this hands-on experience provided by Amazon Future Engineer will inspire them in their academic pursuits and beyond.”
“Amazon is helping FIRST in our goal to make robotics teams and programs available in every school,” said Kamen. “In FIRST, every kid on every team can go pro. They gain a hands-on learning pathway in technology, computer science and engineering that propels them forward and inspires innovation.”