5.7 million grant from Siemens

$5.7 million grant from Siemens gives SMU School of Engineering students and faculty access to cutting-edge manufacturing software

DALLAS, Texas (SMU) May 6, 2008 – The SMU School of Engineering has received an in-kind software grant valued at $5.7 million from Siemens PLM Software, , a division of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services,.

“This generous gift from Siemens will be an integral part of the programs at the Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing by allowing students and faculty to work with some of the most cutting-edge software systems in manufacturing today,” says Dean Geoffrey Orsak. “This is an ideal example of how the relationship between business and academia benefits students by allowing greater opportunities for learning and research using real-world technology.”

The software grant, which provides 10 seats of the NX and Solid Edge academic bundles, will be used to enrich the engineering curriculum at the Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) at the school. Siemens PLM Software’s software will be used in the manufacturing process courses taught in RCAM where students work on the development of fully automated systems that will provide flow of information from design to the final product.

The grant is provided through the GO PLM (Global Opportunities in Product Lifecycle Management) program.

"We are committed to providing our PLM technology in support of academic institutions as they develop students into top-notch engineers and technologists for the global workforce," said Tony Affuso, Chairman  & CEO, Siemens PLM Software line of business. "By continuing to offer state-of-the art enterprise software solutions that are open, scalable and collaborative, we help students achieve their key educational imperatives more quickly while increasing their overall value to employers".

About the SMU School of Engineering

SMU’s School of Engineering, founded in 1925, is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest. The school offers 20 undergraduate and 29 graduate programs, including both masters and doctorate levels.
A private university located in the heart of Dallas, SMU is building on the vision of its founders, who imagined a distinguished center for learning emerging from the spirit of the city. Today, 11,000 students benefit from the national opportunities and international reach afforded by the quality of SMU’s seven degree-granting schools.

About the Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing:
The Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) was established though the Mechanical Engineering Department at the SMU School of Engineering in September of 1999 in response to an increased emphasis on educating students about technologies used in manufacturing. Activities in the RCAM provide an interface between science, engineering, and industrial practice while allowing faculty and students to work in close collaboration with industry partners.

GO PLM Program
Siemens PLM Software’s GO PLM™ initiative leads the industry in the commercial value of the in-kind grants it provides and brings together four complementary community involvement programs focused on academic partnership, regional productivity, youth and displaced worker development and the PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) program. GO PLM provides PLM technology to more than 950,000 students yearly at nearly 9,300 global institutions, where it is used at every academic level – from middle schools to graduate engineering research programs. For more information on GO PLM and the partners and programs it supports visit www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/about_us/goplm/

About Siemens PLM Software

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with 4.6 million licensed seats and 51,000 customers worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Siemens PLM Software’s open enterprise solutions enable a world where organizations and their partners collaborate through Global Innovation Networks to deliver world-class products and services. For more information on Siemens PLM Software products and services, visit www.siemens.com/plm.

About the Siemens Industry Automation Division

The Siemens Industry Automation Division (Nuremberg), a division of the Siemens Industry Sector, is a worldwide leader in the fields of automation systems, low-voltage switchgear and industrial software. Its portfolio ranges from standard products for the manufacturing and process industry to solutions for whole industries and systems that encompass the automation of entire automobile production facilities and chemical plants. As a leading software supplier, Industry Automation optimizes the entire value added chain of manufacturers – from product design and development to production, sales and a wide range of maintenance services.