Dassault Systèmes partners the European Robotics Cup Challenge

For the first time, Dassault Systèmes is offering free licenses for its flagship software CATIA to all teams competing in the challenge.

Paris, France – May 19, 2005 – Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq DASTY, Euronext Paris: No.13065, DSY.PA) today announced that it is an official partner to the 12^th European Robotics Cup, which will take place from May 20-22, 2005 in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, bringing together teams from twenty-three countries. In their eleven-year history, these competitions, which include the French Robotics Cup that goes out on the French TV network M6, have spurred impassioned teams to employ ever-more sophisticated, professional technologies and know-how to produce increasingly complex, fully standalone robots. The challenge facing this year’s contestants from engineering schools and independent robotics clubs is to design robots that will take part in bowling duals, capable of knocking down pins – and setting them back up.

 

The world’s leading provider of 3D solutions which support all industrial design processes, from the pre-project phase through detailed design, analysis, simulation, assembly and maintenance, Dassault Systèmes is providing five free licenses for each team for its flagship application CATIA V5. CATIA Robotics Cup Edition is a dedicated version developed specifically for designing robots in view of the 2006 National and European cups. It includes certain basic modules, as well as more dedicated modules for designing and producing robots. CATIA Robotics Cup Edition encompasses general mechanics, analysis, 2D-3D drafting, and 3D digital mock-up review modules, allowing contestants to design, test and analyze the different components of their robots before they even build them.

 

“With the CATIA Robotics Cup Edition, we are allowing participants, many of whom hail from leading engineering schools in Europe and beyond, to discover Dassault Systèmes’ solutions through a very real – and fun – project,” says Muriel Pénicaud, executive vice president Organization and Human Resources, Dassault Systèmes.

 

“Dassault Systèmes proactively supports many of the world’s leading universities and engineering schools, which prepare young people for the world of industry, by providing academic licenses for CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SMARTEAM and SolidWorks,” adds Philippe Forestier, executive vice president, Alliances, Marketing and Communication, Dassault Systèmes.

 

Dassault Systèmes will also provide educational material online to help these students familiarize themselves with CATIA V5, which could prove extremely useful in their future professional career.

 

“Eurobot has expanded constantly over the years, with a growing number of countries eager to compete. The competition appeals to both students and their teachers, as it offers multiple benefits. It allows contestants to put theoretical knowledge into practice by leveraging the latest technologies. It provides valuable experience of teamwork around a tangible, comprehensive and stimulating project. And last but not least, it fosters networks of impassioned robotics enthusiasts and professionals across Europe. We are delighted to welcome Dassault Systèmes as an official partner and I must say that the presentation of the CATIA offering has already created a lot of excitement among participants,” concludes Nicolas Goldzahl, CEO of VM Group and vice-president of Eurobot.