On the eve of its 45th anniversary, Micron's CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, addressed a packed audience at Boise State University's Stueckle Sky Center, emphasizing the company's progress and future endeavors.
Mehrotra, who has held the CEO position since 2017, announced the groundbreaking of a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing plant on October 4. This facility, in conjunction with the research and development lab, is anticipated to generate 2,000 new jobs within the company. Mehrotra emphasized the significant advantage of this co-location, which will expedite the introduction of advanced technologies to the market.
In addition to the direct employment opportunities within Micron, the construction of the new facility is expected to spur job growth in various other industries throughout the community, estimated to yield an additional 15,000 jobs.
Mehrotra highlighted the broader impact, stating, "So, over the course of a few years, it will make a difference of 17,000 new jobs and more than that, it will actually help increase that, and these are high-paying jobs... It will increase the average wages in the community by a substantial percentage, as well as actually improve the child poverty in the region."
The fabrication facility aims to commence operations by 2026, an objective Mehrotra described as an "aggressive timeline."
Currently, only about 2% of memory systems are produced in the United States, a statistic that Mehrotra emphasized must change. He projected that within a decade, this figure will rise to 15%, and 60% of Micron's memory will be manufactured in the U.S.
Beyond job creation, Micron is dedicated to cultivating a tech-savvy workforce. The company is partnering with educational institutions to introduce STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning as early as kindergarten to foster interest in tech careers.
Mehrotra stressed the importance of diversifying the workforce, advocating for apprenticeships and technician roles, particularly from two-year colleges. He emphasized the significance of tapping into talent from underrepresented groups and rural areas, providing training for the company's workforce.
In terms of innovation, Micron is actively exploring emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Mehrotra highlighted a recent product, high-bandwidth memory, designed to address generative AI applications, emphasizing its superior performance compared to existing products.
Mehrotra's vision for the tech industry is one that elevates the global quality of life through groundbreaking innovations. He stated, "With all these advances in technology tied to AI and autonomous and IOT and industrial, I really look forward to continuing to uplift all the communities in society, here and everywhere."