The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world more rapidly, and has changed the way we live, work, and communicate. As companies adapt to this reality, they are putting more effort into developing technologies for a sustainable world in a sustainable way and continuously creating long-term value for employees, stakeholders, communities, and society as a whole. Sustainability is becoming the foundation of companies and the core of their values and business models.

As the paradigm shift toward ‘sustainable’ management takes place, the economic, social, and environmental responsibilities of companies are increasingly emphasized as the basis for promoting sustainable development. In particular, according to 'social responsibility', companies should pursue the interests of the entire society while carrying out production and business activities, and make decisions and promote activities accordingly. This includes how much attention is paid to the members of the organization within the company and how appropriate relationships are built with society. This is because in order to achieve sustainable growth, the participation of the members of the organization and the entire society is necessary, not the efforts of individuals. Accordingly, companies are turning their eyes to the future of the local community in order to realize harmonious sustainability in each sector of the economy, environment, and society.

We also prioritize community and education in addition to a responsible supply chain as a sustainability strategy that realizes the values of a company that puts people first, a company that can improve the quality of life for everyone, and a company that protects the environment. Community and education support the realization of sustainability at a more fundamental level. And in order for this strategy to have a real effect and achieve sustainable growth goals, the following points should be considered in terms of implementation.

■ Conducting programs targeting local communities

If you are a global company, you can run various educational events around the world centered on each branch. Partner with local educational institutions, elementary, middle, and high schools, universities, etc. to promote industry-academic exchanges through seminars and educational courses related to the company's technology or products. Since you can proceed according to the characteristics of each country, it also helps to expand awareness of the company.

■ Creating a culture and environment that fosters diversity and inclusion

Internally, continuous efforts should be made to improve the quality of the working environment for local employees and create a safe, creative, and collaborative workplace, including through leadership training for women. At the community level, specific programs should be put in place to ensure continued participation by female students and underprivileged groups.

■ Investment in academic fields, the foundation of the electronics industry

Nurturing high-potential talent is the core competitiveness of technology companies. We need to support more students to recognize the importance of STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which are the core of the electronics industry, and to become the mainstay of future innovation. If we utilize the expertise and dynamism of companies leading cutting-edge industries, we can go beyond the existing uniform education and foster talent with integrated thinking through the combination of disciplines.

■ Connecting the effects of education to career paths

If the journey that started with an academic approach leads to specific results and social contributions, we can expect more interest and participation. Experts from companies can serve as ambassadors or mentors to advise students on their studies and career paths. They can also provide advantages for advancement or employment through contests, camps, and other events. For college students, we run programs where they can experience cutting-edge solutions from companies or gain experience in actual industrial settings. These can be expanded into opportunities that lead to internships or actual employment.

A sustainable future depends on innovation, and the main players in driving innovation are businesses, society, and people. In particular, nurturing excellent human resources and strengthening capabilities in the rapidly growing high-tech industry will be the top priority for sustainability.