AT&T – always on the hunt for strong talent -- is spending $1 million to help students get more skills in math and science.

The Dallas-based telecom and media giant said Monday it’s offering money for eight companies and nonprofits that focus on ways to prepare students for careers, including STEM fields. AT&T (NYSE:T) aims to give each winner a $100,000 investment along with $25,000 to cover costs of its Aspire Accelerator, an education-technology incubator.

“We must find innovative ways to get students the skills they need to keep up in an economy increasingly driven by technological advances such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality,” said Charlene Lake, senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility and chief sustainability officer, said in the statement. “Every company, including AT&T, wants a pipeline of skilled talent coming through the door.”

AT&T is investing in ways to attract more engineering workers as it competes in such technology-driven areas as wireless networking and digital advertising. The company has committed $450 million to education since 2008, including skills building non-profits such as Genesys Works, Per Scholas and Urban Alliance, a company spokesperson said in an email.