International Business Machines Corp Stock Price, News & Analysis

IBM has announced an expansion of its IBM Z skills initiatives with a new nationwide IT Infrastructure apprenticeship accelerator program. This program aims to recruit and train candidates with no prior technology experience for roles such as system administrators and application developers. Partnering with Franklin Apprenticeships and the Urban Institute, IBM will provide clients with a no-charge apprenticeship accelerator, including over 300 hours of virtual training. M&T Bank is the inaugural employer partner, planning to hire 10 apprentices starting in January 2021.

IBM announced the acquisition of Instana, a company specializing in application performance monitoring, to enhance its AI-powered automation capabilities within hybrid cloud environments. This strategic move aims to assist businesses in managing the complexities of modern applications across various cloud settings. The acquisition aligns with IBM's ongoing efforts to strengthen its Hybrid Cloud and AI strategies, although financial terms remain undisclosed. Post-integration, clients will benefit from improved performance insights, enabling faster resolution of IT issues and reducing operational risks.

IBM Watson Health has revealed its 2021 Fortune/IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals list, highlighting the best U.S. hospitals for inpatient cardiovascular services. The study, which assessed 980 hospitals, showed that the top performers achieved better clinical outcomes at reduced costs. If all Medicare inpatients received care akin to these hospitals, over 7,000 lives could be saved annually, with potential savings of more than $1.6 billion. The list includes hospitals recognized by the American Heart Association for adherence to evidence-based guidelines.

IBM has announced the expansion of its P-TECH education model to 28 countries, with China being the latest addition. This initiative focuses on improving educational equity and career opportunities in underserved communities. The program enables students to earn high school diplomas along with no-cost associate degrees, coupled with workplace experiences such as internships. Currently, over 240 P-TECH schools are operational, supported by almost 200 community colleges and more than 600 industry partners. The model aims to prepare students for high-demand 'new collar' jobs in sectors like cybersecurity and design.

The COVID-19 High Performance Computing (HPC) Consortium, launched in March 2020, is shifting its focus to expedite research on potential COVID-19 therapies. With new data availability, the Consortium aims to enhance patient outcomes within six months. Supported by IBM and other prominent institutions, the initiative has nearly doubled its computing capacity to 600 petaflops and has processed over 175 research proposals globally. Key areas of focus include modeling patient response and evaluating combination therapies.

On November 12, 2020, TEEX announced a partnership with IBM to integrate aspects of its security portfolio into national cybersecurity training initiatives. The TEEX Cyber Readiness Center will utilize IBM's X-Force Red services to enhance cybersecurity assessments and response training. Trusted by federal agencies, TEEX aims to bolster cybersecurity resilience across the U.S. amid rising cybercrime, especially since COVID-19. This collaboration will leverage IBM's threat intelligence to minimize revenue loss due to security incidents, positioning TEEX to improve preparedness for future cyber threats.