Intel pledges $300m to improve diversity in tech and games

Intel has pledged $300m of investment to improve diversity at the company and the wider technology and gaming sectors.

The investment will go toward actively supporting the recruitment and retention of women and under-represented minorities, as well as fund programs to support more positive representation in the technology industry at large.

The firm plans to work with several partners, including the International Game Developers Association, the E-Sports League, Feminist Frequency and the National Center for Women in Technology to support, enhance or create new programs for the initiative.

It has also pledged to increase its engagement with primary education programs focused on underserved areas, as well as expanding its collaboration with computer science and engineering programs at higher education institutions.

Intel said it aims to achieve better representation in its workforce and senior leadership positions by 2020.

"We’re calling on our industry to again make the seemingly impossible possible by making a commitment to real change and clarity in our goals," said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich.

"Without a workforce that more closely mirrors the population, we are missing opportunities, including not understanding and designing for our own customers."

Develop recently conducted reserach on diversity in the UK game industry, and found that women represent just 15 per cent of the workforce.