Auburn Hills, Mich., USA, August 5, 2009 – Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that Focus: HOPE’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) is implementing DS’ DELMIA digital manufacturing and CATIA digital design solutions as part of its manufacturing engineering education process. This opportunity was made possible through grant monies received by Focus: HOPE and through the DS Academic Partnership Program, whereby educational institutions receive software, training and certification at a fraction of its commercial value.

“Equipping our students with skills that prepare them for entry into the workforce is a critical part of our education process,” said Manager of Focus: HOPE’s CAT Joanna Woods. “CATIA’s dominance as the design tool of choice in many industries is an important skill set for our students. In combination with an understanding of the DELMIA digital manufacturing tools, our students gain a definite advantage when they apply for engineering positions after graduation.”

The Focus: HOPE CAT students earn their engineering degrees through Lawrence Technological University, University of Michigan Ann Arbor or Dearborn, Wayne State University, or the University of Detroit Mercy. The DS solutions will be used at the Focus: HOPE CAT’s engineering labs to provide additional practical hands-on training to the students as well as in the student’s capstone senior project where they simulate product creation from design through manufacturing, including all processes and costs involved.

The DS solutions made available to the Center will educate students in virtual product development where all product design and manufacturing processes are created, simulated and optimized in a virtual 3D environment on the computer, prior to anything being built in the real world. This helps companies achieve maximum production efficiency, lower cost, improve quality and reduce time to market. CATIA is the world's leading solution for product design and innovation and DELMIA enables the virtual definition, planning, creation monitoring and control of all production processes.

Ms. Woods added that students receiving training in these DS solutions will be prepared to serve as manufacturing engineers in a variety of industries including medical, food, energy, consumer products, aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, etc., noting, “All of these industries rely upon sophisticated computer programs to create their products and plan their manufacturing processes.”

“We are proud to be partnered with such a distinguished institution as Focus: HOPE,” said Roy Smolky, DELMIA Worldwide Academic Relations, Dassault Systèmes. ”It is through efforts like this that we can foster interest in the engineering careers that are vital to our nation’s economic advantage.”

Added Focus: HOPE CEO William F. Jones, Jr., “Partnerships with companies like Dassault Systèmes are crucial in carrying out our mission. The training these students receive will equip them with job-ready skills as well as significantly reduce the cost of training for the employer – it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

“Our engineering program is distinguished by its hands-on training component,” said Focus: HOPE Co-founder Eleanor Josaitis. “Acquiring these software applications gives us the tools to provide exceptional learning experiences for our students.”

For more information on Dassault Systèmes education programs, visit www.campus.3ds.com.
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About Focus: HOPE’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT)
Focus: HOPE’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) educates renaissance engineers through a unique collaboration with industry and university partners that started in 1993. The tuition-free program provides students with the opportunity for internships as they study toward associates and bachelor's degrees in engineering awarded by partner universities. With their unique blend of work experience and academic preparation, CAT graduates are truly prepared for engineering careers in the 21st century.

Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, Michigan. Its mission is to use intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty and injustice.
For more information, visit www.focushope.edu.

About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.

CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.