JEDDAH: Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions and King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) announced Thursday the signing of an agreement at the Paris Air Show 2011 for the advancement of digital design and engineering literacy in Saudi Arabia. Dassault Systèmes was chosen as a strategic partner by KACST, the principal Saudi Arabian organization driving national Science and Technology policies, conducting state-of-art research and development, and providing strategic direction to local educational institutes relating to actions for achieving industrial diversification goals, a statement said. The agreement will prepare the ground for significant evolutions in the Saudi Arabian manufacturing industry by supplying a sustained flow of highly employable Saudi Arabian engineers. Most of these engineers will be the workforce for KACST mega projects. Others will have the ability to create their own companies to support the Kingdom industrial sector. The agreement will also facilitate the national policy of industrialization, the growth of the digital economy and significantly involve women in the workforce leveraging new technologies for telecommuting. Some of Dassault Systèmes' leading customers such as Boeing and NASA are already KACST's partners and they rely on Dassault Systèmes solutions for developing, engineering and manufacturing their products. Bernard Charlès, president & CEO Dassault Systèmes, and Philippe Forestier, executive vice president, Global Affairs and Communities, have invited guests from KACST led by Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud Al-Saud, KACST vice president for Research Institutes, to join them for the signing at Dassault Systèmes' chalet at the Paris Air Show. Dr. Al-Saud expressed his satisfaction upon the signing of the MOU, and said; "KACST is the leading government agency for research and development in all strategic areas including aerospace technology. KACST in conducting its research and development strives for the best integration and utilization of cutting-edge technologies and has signed key agreements with World-class companies and agencies for this purpose. We consider Dassault Systèmes as a World leader in providing state-of-art technologies that support product development from idea to market. This signing is the start of a significant new partnership which will have a positive impact on future economic, industrial and social development within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We appreciate Dassault Systèmes sharing our vision for the creation of a hub of engineering knowledge within KACST, which can be leveraged to impact wider industrial diversification." Dr. Mohammed Al-Majed, the director of National Satellite Technology Program at KACST (NSTP), said the agreement is a strategic partnership that builds on the current successful deployment of Dassault Systemes latest PLM system at NSTP. He added that with NSTP expanding its core project management and system engineering capabilities, we found Dassault Systèmes' PLM product development platform satisfies complexity and scalability requirements. Such platform will enhance innovation and creativity within our satellite development program. With Dassault Systèmes PLM solutions, engineers will have the capability to work in partnership with international teams on collaborative product development in a way that has previously been difficult to achieve in the region. Dassault Systèmes and its Middle East distributor, D2M Solutions, are helping KACST to reach its short and long term goals for digital product development and manufacturing. The agreement covers major cooperation areas such as developing PLM Innovation Centers throughout Saudi Arabia, which would offer a truly advanced training experience to young engineers whereby they would become adept at using industry-required skills. The partnership also covers important academic programs through the newly established Advanced Technology Institute (a partnership between KACST and Technical and Vocational Training Corporation - TVTC). By involving all levels of Saudi Arabian students, from high schools to advanced R&D within the universities, the agreement aims at creating a metamorphosis of the new generation of Saudi engineers and innovators. This will allow the ecosystem of Saudi Arabian start-up firms to be ready to take on the challenges and opportunities of product development within the global market.
