NI’s 2021 Corporate Impact Report Shares ESG Wins, Sets New Climate Neutrality Goal

Highlights also include $2.7 million in STEM education grants, achievement of pay equity targets

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NI (NASDAQ: NATI) today released its 2021 Corporate Impact Report, which outlines the company’s first full year of progress toward its 2030 goals to make a positive impact on society and the planet. This progress ranges from building infrastructure for increasing NI’s workforce and supplier diversity over the next decade to creating hands-on STEM education programs that are already changing children’s lives every day.

The report also puts forth a new goal: By 2030, NI will become a climate-neutral company with an ongoing commitment to protecting biodiversity. The company’s ambition is to operate in a way that produces no net greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2).

NI’s 2030 Corporate Impact strategy and goals support three pillars—Changing the Faces of Engineering, Building an Equitable and Thriving Society, and Engineering a Healthy Planet—that were created to reflect where the company can have the greatest influence and impact as a test and measurement engineering leader.

“We are living through a period of rapid evolution. We see it with our customers who are accelerating the digital transformation of our world, and we see it in our society and across our planet,” said Eric Starkloff, CEO of NI. “Our 2030 Corporate Impact Strategy reflects our desire to be a driver of positive change.”

Formed Nine Long-term STEM Education Partnerships

One of NI’s key drivers of positive transformation in 2021 was its announcement of $2.7 million in grants to STEM education initiatives that advance diversity in STEM education globally. The company formed nine new partnerships with nonprofits to bring hands-on programs and mentoring to girls and women, people of color and economically disadvantaged populations.

NI is using its funding, expertise and volunteerism to help partners scale their existing programs and co-create new initiatives. In Penang, Malaysia, NI worked with Penang Science Cluster to create and launch Girls in Engineering and Technology. In Debrecen, Hungary, it worked with Agora Science Center to launch the WATCH program. And in Austin, Texas, NI launched a collaboration with Thinkery and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area to jointly develop Collaboration to Realize Equity and Teach Engineering (C.R.E.A.T.E.).

These programs aim to diversify the engineering talent pipeline, complementing NI’s efforts to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in its own workforce. To that end, the company engaged 74% of its employees in a Leading Inclusion conversation series, expanded its inclusion resource groups to over 1,000 employees and diversified its recruiting strategies.

Achieved Global Pay Equity Ambitions

NI has a goal to achieve substantial equity in total rewards — base salary, variable pay, and benefits — for all employees in similar roles and levels with comparable performance and impact. In 2021, the company achieved substantial equity in base salary across the company, with ratios of 99% for women to men (global), 101% for people of color to white (U.S.), 100% for Black to white (U.S.) and 101% for Latinx to white (U.S.). Additionally, the ratio of standard entry-level living wage to local living wage was 134% for NI Hungary employees and 136.5% for NI Malaysia employees. This is equivalent to an entry-level job in Austin, Texas, paying approximately $24.50 an hour.

Conducted Lifecycle Analysis of NI Products’ Environmental Impact

To support its 2030 goal to pursue circular design improvements, NI conducted a lifecycle analysis of its products’ environmental impact. The company found that improving energy efficiency is its biggest opportunity to design products that reduce its customers’ footprint.

This complements NI’s efforts to reduce its operational carbon footprint. Key 2021 achievements in this area include sourcing 35.5% of electricity from renewables and designing 113,542 square feet (more than an average New York City block) of new buildings and remodels to LEED and WELL standards. NI now has three LEED-certified buildings and four others designed to LEED standards (including a new Penang facility opening later this year).

“We’ve had to put in extra effort to keep Corporate Impact top of mind in the face of macro challenges such as the pandemic, supply chain disruption, and our transformation as a company,” said Tabitha Upshaw, senior director of Brand, Reputation and Impact at NI. “And I’m so proud of what we’ve worked together across the company to achieve this year.”

Supporting Resources: ni.com/en-us/about-ni/corporate-impact/reporting-and-governance.html

About NI

At NI, we bring together the people, ideas, and technology so forward thinkers and creative problem solvers can take on humanity's biggest challenges. From data and automation to research and validation, we provide the tailored, software-connected systems engineers and enterprises need to Engineer Ambitiously™ every day.

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Chris Wolf

pr@ni.com

Source: NI