IRVINE, Calif. and SINGAPORE, Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Western
Digital® (NYSE:
WDC) announced today that it has established a research and
development center in Singapore, where the company will leverage
the local talent pool and expertise of research organizations, such
as Singapore’s A*STAR Data Storage Institute
(DSI), and universities in the development of advanced hard
drive technologies.  Located in Singapore Science Park, near
WD’s newly acquired media manufacturing operation, the Western
Digital Singapore HDD R&D Center is now operational. The
company also announced that it is entering an agreement with DSI to
collaborate on the development of advanced head, media and hard
drive system design.

The proliferation of content on personal computers, storage
devices and social networks is driving demand for higher capacity
hard drives and the advanced science and engineering behind them.
WD’s focus for the new center is the development of future
solutions for hard drive recording heads and media, system design
and manufacturing processes. An estimated 65 research engineers
will be hired within the next three years.

“Singapore has built a wealth of engineering talent, now
available to WD,” said Tim Leyden, WD chief operating officer.
“This is a product of a supportive government, R&D resources
from DSI and universities, and a long history of hard drive
industry manufacturing and engineering operations in the country.
The resulting environment has produced an advanced technology
research and human resource culture that makes Singapore an ideal
location for WD investments.”

“DSI is very pleased to be collaborating with WD. I believe we
will be able to add value to one another, further pushing the
limits of drive technology and bringing about new and
advanced

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