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SME Press Release

SME Education Foundation, Siemens PLM Software, and National Science Foundation Invest in Future Engineers

Awards In-Kind Software Grants to University of Michigan-Dearborn and Westfield Vocational-Technical High School

DEARBORN, Mich., February 2, 2009 — Future engineers will compete in a digital world in a global economy by having greater control through a single source of manufacturing knowledge.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation, www.smeef.org, today announced a joint in-kind software grant with Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, awarded to the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) which will give students access to the same PLM applications that are used by multi-national corporations in key industries around the globe.

The range of software provided includes Teamcenter® software, Siemens PLM Software’s digital lifecycle management solution and the world’s most widely used PLM portfolio; and Tecnomatix® software, Siemens PLM Software’s best-in-class digital manufacturing solution. UM-Dearborn undergraduate and graduate students will use the software to acquire skills in simulation, robotics, manufacturing processes, facilities planning and product data management.

“It is critical that we retain global leadership in developing world-class engineers and technologists,” says Khalil S. Taraman, PhD, FSME, PE, D.I.T., chair of Manufacturing Engineering at Lawrence Technological University and president of the SME Education Foundation.

“Siemens PLM Software is a powerful enhancement to every level of curriculum.”
“The experience gained in the use of these tools better prepares our students for tomorrow’s highly-competitive manufacturing jobs requiring minimal job training and a full knowledge of modern technologies and tools,” said Dr. Elsayed Orady, professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering at UM-Dearborn. “Siemens PLM Software’s grant provides access to PLM technology which is normally unaffordable by colleges and universities, and it gives our students a distinct advantage by using the same PLM technology that is widely used by leading manufacturing companies all around the world.”

In addition, selected high school students and teachers from the Detroit Public Schools and Oakland Schools, participating in UM-Dearborn School of Education’s Fostering Interest in Information Technology (FI 3T) project, a three-year program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), will also receive hands-on experience with this state-of-the-art software.

Musut Duran, the program’s director and associate professor of education, has designed after-school, weekend, and summer activities designed to engage these high school students in rigorous study and practical experience. “Our goal is to engage secondary students in activities that will reinforce their high school education and encourage them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math,” Duran said.

Westfield Vocational-Technical High School GrantThe SME Education Foundation and Siemens PLM Software also awarded Westfield Vocational-Technical High School in Westfield, Mass., an in-kind software grant valued at $14.3 million which includes NX™ software, Siemens PLM Software’s comprehensive digital product development solution; and Solid Edge® software, the core CAD component of the Velocity Series™ portfolio, a comprehensive family of solutions addressing PLM needs of the mid-market.

The SME Education Foundation has also provided an additional $50,000 for new computers.

The SME Education Foundation and Siemens PLM Software are offering their support to the academic community by giving schools the opportunity to use the latest, state-of-the-art PLM tools in their curriculum. For more information and online grant application visit Siemens PLM Software Grant, please complete the grant application and return it to the SME Education Foundation for approval and processing.

About GO PLM
Siemens PLM Software’s GO PLM™ program, which leads the industry in the commercial value of in-kind grants it provides, 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 one million students yearly at nearly 10,000 global institutions, where it is used at every academic level – from grade schools to graduate engineering research programs. For more information on GO PLM and the partners and programs it supports, visit www.siemens.com/partners/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 5.9 million licensed seats and 56,000 customers worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Siemens PLM Software works collaboratively with companies to deliver open solutions that help them turn more ideas into successful products. For more information on Siemens PLM Software products and services, visit www.siemens.com/plm.

About the SME Education Foundation:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation was created by SME in 1979 as a means of transforming manufacturing education in North American colleges and universities. As one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education, its approach is to inspire youth to pursue careers in manufacturing; support students studying for a career in an engineering-related field, and prepare these students to participate in a global economy. The Foundation has provided more than $24 million in grants, scholarships and awards. Visit www.sme.org/foundation.

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact SME Public Relations by phone (313) 271-1500, e-mail communications@sme.org, or Fax: (313) 425-3403