9: A pipeline of talented scientists and engineers for tomorrow

Any vision of a sustainable future society must have science and technology at its heart. But who will create it, and whose talent, know-how and ingenuity will overcome the challenges it will face?

We've long recognised the importance of developing skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) among the next generation: they are essential to our industry and to our business, as well as to society as a whole. In fact, for ArcelorMittal, this outcome is a priority for adding long-term value to the business. So developing STEM skills is the global theme for our community investment strategy, and we're working with schools, colleges and universities all over the world to encourage, support, and reward STEM education.

Inspiring the next generation

Our pipeline begins in schools, where we aim to inspire and encourage young students – and especially girls – to take an interest in science. After all, they will become the graduates of the 2020s and 2030s. For example, our Ghent site in Belgium hosts visits from hundreds of schools to give young learners an understanding of what’s involved in modern steelmaking. In Brazil, our Environment Award has reached more than 200,000 students and 7,000 teachers across the country over the past 25 years, with 73,000 students involved in 2016 alone.

In addition, we fund prizes for college and university students such as ‘Le Prix des Innovateurs’ in France, which aims to motivate students to explore STEM themes.