Features - Enterprise Data Insights:

IMATION NABS GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR MULTI-TERABYTE STORAGE

Imation Corp, a worldwide leader in removable data storage media, recently announced that it has been awarded a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Technology Program (NIST-ATP) for the development of technologies to advance the storage density capabilities of magnetic tape. The four-year, $11.9 million grant was jointly awarded to Imation and its partners to support the development of new technologies needed to increase data density of current magnetic tape data systems, and lay the foundation for even greater densities in future tape systems.

With this new funding from the NIST-ATP, Imation and its partners plan to dramatically improve "volumetric data density" (the number of bytes of data stored in a data cartridge) for linear magnetic tape systems through a number of technical innovations. Imation's partners in this development program include Accutronics Inc, Advanced Research Corp, Peregrine Recording Technology Inc, and Read-Rite Corp.

"Since Imation's introduction of the first magnetic data storage tape 50 years ago, we have remained committed to increasing the performance capabilities of magnetic media," said Ron Zinke, vice president and general manager, Imation's Data Storage Media and Services business. "This additional funding allows us to continue that momentum with a development program that enables growth in the volumetric data density for linear magnetic tape systems, and therefore increasing the cost efficiencies of magnetic tape storage compared to other storage technologies in the industry."

Founded in 1990, the ATP, which is managed by the NIST, provides cost-shared funding to industry-led teams to help advance particularly challenging, high-risk research and development projects that have the potential to spark important, broad-based economic or social benefits for the United States. ATP awards are made on the basis of rigorous competitive peer review considering scientific and technical merit of each proposal and its potential benefits to the US economy. The program accelerates enabling technology research, but does not support product development work.

Imation received $6.6 million of the $11.9 million grant, and will use those funds to engage additional support for the project from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio), and the University of California at San Diego.

About NIST

NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration that promotes measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade and improve the quality of life. NIST-ATP awards are intended to accelerate the development of innovative technologies for broad national benefit through research and development partnerships with the private sector. NIST-ATP awards are granted on the basis of a rigorous competitive review that considers the scientific and technical merit of each proposal and the potential benefits to the U.S. economy. More information about the NIST-ATP award may be obtained at www.atp.nist.gov.

About Imation Corp

Imation Corp is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of magnetic and optical removable data storage media. With one of the broadest product lines in the industry -- spanning from a few megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes of capacity in each piece of media -- Imation serves customers in more than 60 countries, in both business and consumer markets. From large data centers to distributed networks, Imation's tape cartridges are used in data processing, security, business continuity, backup and archiving applications. Customer needs for reliability, convenience and portability to store and manage business data, photos, video, images and music on professional and home desktops and increasingly in consumer electronics devices drive demand for Imation's optical and diskette products. With 400 technology scientists and nearly 300 patents in the U.S. alone, Imation continues to pioneer today's proven magnetic and optical media technologies. As of June 2002, Imation employed approximately 3,200 people worldwide. Revenues from outside the U.S. contribute approximately 47 percent of total sales. Additional information about Imation is available on the company's Website at www.imation.com or by calling 888-466-3456.

CONTACT: Jennifer Finzen, Imation Corp, 651-704-3558, jfinzen@imation.com.