The company sees a potential competitive advantage to leveraging the unique talents of people with autism, while also helping them to secure meaningful employment. It is estimated that one 1% of the world’s population is affected by autism.
SAP will work globally on the recruitment drive with Specialisterne, an internationally recognised leader in harnessing the talents of people with autism to work in technology-oriented jobs such as software testing, programming and data management.
Luisa Delgado, member of the Executive Board of SAP AG, Human Resources, said: "By concentrating on the abilities that every talent brings to the table, we can redefine the way we manage diverse talents.
"With Specialisterne, we share a common belief that innovation comes from the ‘edges.’ Only by employing people who think differently and spark innovation will SAP be prepared to handle the challenges of the 21st century."
Thorkil Sonne, founder of Specialisterne and chairman of the board, Specialist People Foundation, commented: "We are very excited by this opportunity to enable SAP global access to a huge pool of untapped talent and therefore, help strengthen SAP’s position as a global leader in innovation.
"SAP is the first multinational company to partner with us on a global scale. The partnership will position SAP as thought leader and motivate the ecosystem to follow its example."
The global announcement follows successful pilot projects in India and Ireland that demonstrate the positive impact of empowering people with autism to excel in their areas of strength. Working locally with Specialisterne, SAP Labs in India hired six people with autism as software testers for SAP Business Suite applications.
As a result, the team has increased its productivity and cohesiveness in key areas, according to SAP. The Ireland pilot is currently completing the screening phase for five positions to be filled this year. SAP will expand the program globally, starting in the USA, Canada and Germany in 2013.
