HGST Donates $3 Million to Philippines Universities

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) 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).

Ateneo de Manila University

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.