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Hitachi Donates $3M In Laboratory Equipment To Philippines Universities
Fri 22 Aug, 2008
Hitachi’s Integrated University Program to Help Develop Local Hard
Disk Drive Industry by Providing Scholarships, Research Grants, Lab Equipment
and On-the-Job Trainig
Biñan, Laguna – August 22, 2008 –
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) announced today that it will
intensify its commitment to build local hard disk drive technology and
manufacturing capabilities by collaborating with key universities in the
country for a knowledge and skills enhancement initiative called Integrated
University Program. Led by Hitachi GST Philippines’ Laguna-based
facility, the program provides scholarships, research grants, sponsorships,
laboratory donations, and on-the-job training (OJT) to both students and
faculty members at the selected universities.
A key element of the program is a donation from Hitachi laboratories
consisting of cutting-edge equipment for Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) and
the University of the Philippines (UP). The laboratory donation worth more than
US$3 million focuses on robotics (multi-axis robots, precision stages, servo
motor control and vision systems) and metrology (interferometry, microscopy and
measurement).
Under the program, recipients or beneficiaries of scholarship and research
grants, as well as the OJT program, are chosen every year based on the
different universities’ schedules. Grants and scholarships focus on
academic disciplines in engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and
industrial), the sciences (chemistry, physics, materials and computer science)
and statistics. The six beneficiary universities include AdMU, De La Salle
University (DLSU), Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), Polytechnic University
of the Philippines (PUP), UP and University of Santo Tomas (UST).
OJT students will be trained to work with state-of-the-art robotics,
metrology and design resources at Hitachi’s Laguna plant. Faculty
research grants will fund the study of subjects concerning the environment,
including hazardous waste treatment, power efficiency and water utilization.
Hitachi GST has expanded the mission of its Laguna facility, making it a
global center of competency for the development and production of sliders, a
critical component in hard drives. Sliders are tiny flying wings that support
the read/write head above the surface of the disk. Continued advancements in
slider technology will allow hard drive suppliers to continue making
improvements in the areas of power consumption, shock tolerance and overall
storage capacity.
“Hitachi has been manufacturing hard drives and component technology
in the Philippines for more than ten years now and we continue to be impressed
by the highly skilled local workforce. We recognize the tremendous potential of
these future scientists and engineers, which is why we are investing in,
developing and recruiting local talent through mutually beneficial
collaborations such as the Integrated University Program,” said Dr.
Pantelis Alexopoulos, vice president and general manager, Head Business Group,
Hitachi GST.
Hitachi GST’s collaborative program with universities complements the
Philippine government’s vision of enhancing industrial and economic
development, including employment generation in the fields of materials
science, chemicals and minerals, electronics and process control, fuels and
energy, microbiology and genetics and the environment.
“The Integrated University Program is one of Hitachi GST’s
sustainable corporate social responsibility programs. We fully support the
Philippine government’s vision of a more dynamic industrial and economic
foundation. This is why we have committed our Laguna facility to develop and
produce complex hard drive technology,” added Alexopoulos.
"The equipment donation and other program elements will go a long way toward
helping our students and faculty advance their talent, skills and knowledge,"
said Dr. Sergio Cao, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
"We appreciate Hitachi's support and look forward to working with them to
strengthen and expand the base of engineering talent in the Philippines."
Hitachi GST currently employs more than 5,000 employees at its Laguna
facility. It has won five awards from the Export Development Council of the
Philippines.
About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies develops advanced hard disk drives to
store and preserve the world’s valued data. Founded by the pioneers of
hard drives, Hitachi GST enables users to fully engage in the digital
lifestyle by providing high-value, high-capacity storage in formats suitable
for the office, in the home or on the road. With vertically integrated
research, design and manufacturing capabilities, Hitachi GST delivers
leadership technology and quality to its global customer base.
With approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, Hitachi GST offers a
comprehensive range of hard drive products for desktop computers,
high-performance storage systems and servers, notebooks and consumer devices.
For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.hitachigst.com.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT/TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a
leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees
worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled
10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of
systems, products and services in market sectors including information
systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products,
materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please
visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies' trademarks are authorized for use in
countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has
the right to use, market and advertise the brands. The Travelstar trademark
is authorized for use in the Americas, EMEA, and the following Asia-Pacific
countries and jurisdictions: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South
Korea and Taiwan. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies shall not be liable to
third parties for unauthorized use of its trademarks.
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