Dassault Systemes and the New Detroit Science Center Form Out-of-this-World Partnership

Planetarium Re-Named Dassault Systèmes Planetarium

DETROIT, May 16, 2003 -- Dassault Systèmes, the world leader in Product Lifecycle Management solutions (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), and The New Detroit Science Center today announced a new, global partnership that will further enhance the Science Center’s ability to share the wonders of science and astronomy. The announcement, followed by the unveiling of the new Dassault Systèmes Planetarium logo, was made at the Science Center by Dassault Systèmes president & CEO Bernard Charlès and The New Detroit Science Center Chairman Francois J. Castaing.

Dassault Systèmes will make a $1 million, multi-year contribution to The New Detroit Science Center in support of the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium and provide valuable technical expertise that will enhance future planetarium programming.

“Dassault Systèmes has long been committed to leadership applications of technology to reshape the design and engineering of products in manufacturing industries such as in the automotive sector. This investment in support of the Science Center’s mission to educate and inspire young people to explore the power of science, technology and engineering will resonate throughout our community. We are grateful for this new partnership,” said Castaing.

“The opportunity to open young minds to science and technology is a marvelous privilege,” said Bernard Charlès, president and CEO of Dassault Systèmes. “Creativity and innovation are at the heart of our business. Questioning, learning, advancing the limits of knowledge to build better, environment friendly products for more people – that is the focus of our activity. The digital world with 3D is a space to explore,

share, understand and create – a space for freedom. This partnership enables us to share that passion for discovery with a new generation of curious, eager minds.”

The Dassault Systèmes Planetarium’s advanced DigistarÒ II projection system allows audiences to see more than 9,000 stars, plus planets, galaxies and even the harsh conditions of the planet Venus on a 50-foot wide, three-story high dome. Visitors experience the wonder of nebulae, star clusters and the awesome power of a black hole. The 13,000-watt Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound lets viewers experience a phenomenon like a Supernova explosion in its full sound and fury.

The Dassault Systèmes Planetarium seats 117 guests and is one of the world’s few digital planetarium projection systems. Unlike traditional planetariums that have a “fixed” star field, the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium has DigistarÒ technology, which provides computer-generated images that have the ability to move in vibrant ways, and more than 40 different special effects projectors. This provides total immersion for the spectators in a virtually recreated cosmos, at any date in time.