Intel is seeking to encourage a new generation of women to take up careers in science and technology, be offering scholarships for STEM courses.

The company’s scholarship programme offers a monetary grant valued at €2,000 per annum as well as opportunities for work placements at the Intel Leixlip or Shannon campuses.

The scholarships are open to female school leavers entering, in September 2015, specified four year undergraduate degree courses in science, technology and engineering at a variety of third level institutions across Ireland.

“What we find is that the more technical rich the employee mix becomes the less female candidates are available to fill roles and this is something which needs to be addressed,” Intel said.

The Women in Technology scholarship programme was introduced by Intel in Ireland in 2012.