Borealis Social Fund promotes pupils, students and research programmes in plastics engineering

Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative solutions in the area of base chemicals and plastics, utilises its Borealis Social Fund to promote social projects in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. And with the Borealis Social Scholarship Programme, pupils, students and international research programmes in Europe have been targeted to receive support for the first time.

"For us, Corporate Social Responsibility means not only investing in our own company, but in society as a whole," says Mark Garrett, Borealis Chief Executive. "And society needs skilled professionals who are dedicated to finding innovative solutions for a sustainable future. As a leader in the plastics industry, we see it as part of our duty to society to provide financial support to pupils and students who need it to help them pursue their courses of study in these fields. The Borealis Social Scholarship project is aimed at helping them realise their full potential," Garrett explains.

The Borealis Social Scholarship Programme provides support in four main areas:

1. Talented pupils attending vocational/technical secondary schools whose interest in plastics engineering should be encouraged; they are to receive financial assistance in all stages of learning up to university level.
2. Support for talented students exhibiting high potential in the areas of chemistry and plastics engineering, yet who lack the financial means to develop their full potential. These students will receive support from Borealis during their studies while earning their degrees.
3. Assistance and support for women writing their dissertations in the areas of chemistry and plastics engineering. It is especially important to promote women studying plastics engineering, as they are significantly underrepresented in the field.
4. The Mobility Programme aims to encourage international exchange among students in the areas of chemistry and plastics engineering.

"It is especially pleasing that Borealis – having already successfully supported the establishment of the Plastics Engineering study courses at JKU Linz – is making yet another pioneering contribution to the education of our students. The plastics industry is one of the most important future industries, period. And robust demand for our study courses is the best indicator of this trend," says Rector Richard Hagelauer of Johannes Kepler University Linz.

For Karl Reischer, Director of the TGM Vienna (School of Technology), the Borealis support programme is an essential building block in the sustained promotion of young talent in the field of plastics engineering. "Thanks to Borealis and its programme, talented young people will be able to enter this discipline and successfully complete their education and training. But the overall advantages the programme offers are even greater, thanks to the resulting availability of a pool of well-trained plastics engineers so vital to our economy," Reischer explains.

Over many years Borealis has maintained a healthy working relationship with both the JKU Linz and the TGM Vienna. In order to ensure the longevity of this co-operation, five-year contracts have now been signed with both institutes.

"Thanks to our owners OMV and IPIC, we can use part of our net profits to establish a social fund which is used to help young, talented people obtain a well-rounded education. Our aim in the medium term is to expand the Borealis Social Scholarship Programme to include international institutes and research programmes," Mark Garrett adds.

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More information about the Borealis Social Scholarship Programme may be obtained at: 

TGM Vienna (School of Technology) 
Helmut Elmecker, Department Head Materials Science, TGM Vienna
Wexstrasse 19-23, 1200 Vienna, Tel.: +43 1 33126 300, 
E-mail: helmut.elmecker@tgm.ac.at

Johannes Kepler University Linz
Institute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, 
Dr. Christian Paulik, Head of Institute, 
Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Tel.: +43 732 2468 8804 508, 
E-mail: christian.paulik@jku.at

For further information, please contact:
Dorothea Wiplinger, External Communications Manager Borealis
Tel: +43 1 22 400 608
E-mail: dorothea.wiplinger@borealisgroup.com