KNOWLEDGE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE BASED ON KTI TECHNOLOGY

The Rector of the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Prof. Dr. Klaus Erich Pollmann, has signed an agreement with Knowledge Technologies International (KTI) for the University's Competency to become the first Center of Excellence for KTI's Knowledge-based Process Modeler (KPM), part of its suite of knowledge-based software, The KBO Environment. KPM can build on an enterprise's corporate knowledge base by learning from experiences and applying reasoning to events, as well as being able to dynamically manage and schedule entire processes.

KPM is a revolutionary, dynamic process management and execution tool that allows users to define, execute, monitor, and simulate business processes. By capturing and formalizing the full process structure, together with associated best practices, KPM delivers complete process visibility, enabling teams to monitor dynamic processes and to evaluate advance notice of any downstream resource and scheduling issues.

The development of this Center of Excellence at Magdeburg University will provide KTI with the benefit of scientific research and academic rigor for future developments of KPM and process applications. According to Professor Sandor Vajna, Chair of Computer Applications in Mechanical Engineering, access to KPM software will enable the University to take a leap forward in further developing its own knowledge-based Engineering Process Model, which has been proved in industrial projects and is the basis for improving product development processes.

Professor Vajna adds, "In order to be innovative, organizations need to use computer systems to store their knowledge of product development processes and of how to improve them. KPM allows us to do this. Looking at the historical trend, in the 1960s CAD emerged to help design product models and during the 1980s EDM & PDM systems were introduced to manage product data; in the 2000s the focus is on systems to manage and improve product development processes. Such systems can maximise a company's `Knowledge Assets' derived from product development teams and make use of external `best-practice' knowledge. KPM is the first and most advanced tool to offer a completely new quality of process support, and is the most appropriate system to base our Engineering Process Model research upon. It will also allow us to teach students using the foremost technology in product development. Both parties expect the combination of an outstanding product and proven theory to be the basis for exciting new developments."

Garreth Evans, CEO at KTI, said: "KTI regards the relationship with Universities and other research organizations as critical to continuing to deliver leading products that solve customers' problems. We benefit from the work of these partners and they benefit from the strength of our products and consulting services. The Competency Center offers students the opportunity to include KPM in their work and provides KTI with the opportunity for a unique exchange of experience and knowledge. We are delighted to team with Professor Vajna and look forward to a long and successful relationship."

About The KBO Environment

KTI's The KBO Environment with `ICAD Built In' is the advanced Knowledge-Based Organization (KBO) software tool for the intuitive management of complex processes. It enables a KBO to harness product definitions along with the knowledge base of its experts, product rules, performance data, legislative and safety codes and design best practices. It automates product development from concept to production. KTI's KBO technology has been proven in countless process automation applications for world-leading companies in automotive, aerospace and manufacturing industries providing the most advanced knowledge deployment environment and regularly provides returns on investment of over 100% and productivity gains in excess of 50%. The KBO Environment is a new family of KTI's Knowledge-Based Products comprising several inter-operative elements:

• Knowledge-based Process Modeler (KPM) -- Comprehends, initiates, controls and dynamically monitors complex and even fragmented enterprise-wide processes
• Knowledge Server -- Easily captures and serves knowledge with (`ICAD Built In')
• Knowledge Portal -- Intelligently searches for, delivers and archives knowledge
• Knowledge Browser -- An intuitive environment to access and integrate your KBO applications
• Knowledge Backbone -- Integrates distributed heterogeneous knowledge sources

About KTI

KTI is the technology powerhouse behind the knowledge revolution and the world's most successful provider of software and services empowering the Knowledge-Based Organization (KBO). KTI's technology allows enterprises to capture their Intellectual Capital and deploy it intuitively to control complex processes. The benefits are massively compressed time scales, huge cost savings, enhanced creativity and optimized products, resulting in `audited', documented, repeatable and fully understood processes and best practices. KTI's technology is now considered by many companies to be a vital asset in the drive to constantly improve their offer and keep ahead of the competition. Using KTI's software, global market-leading companies in aerospace, automotive and other manufacturing industries have become pioneers in creating customer-driven products, right first time - every time.

Registered in Luxembourg the company operates from offices across the USA, Europe and Asia. KTI's world-wide client base includes Airbus Industrie, AP Parts, Benetton Formula 1, Airbus, Corus, Daelim, Fiat, Ford, GM, IPTN, Jaguar Cars, Lotus Cars, Pratt & Whitney, Ricardo, Rolls-Royce, Sikorsky, Tata, Trico and many others. For more details see: www.KTIworld.com. Note: KTI initiated and is prime sponsor of the KBO conference. Sponsors have included Sun, Hewlett-Packard and Silicon Graphics. For details on the recent European KBO conference in Paris, and future International KBO Conferences see: www.KBOworld.com.

About the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg

The origins of the University (named after the famous inventor, Lord Mayor and politician, Otto von Guericke) date back to the early 1950s. It now offers faculties in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine, as well as Social & Education Sciences. The university is renowned for its leading research in Engineering & Medicine. Areas of specialization of the Chair of Computer Applications in Mechanical Engineering include Integrated Product Development (graduate course), Product Modeling and Optimization using evolutionary methods, calculation methods and tools for the economic viability of new technologies. For more information visit: imk.uni-magdeburg.de/LMI/lmi.html.

Contact KTI, Keith Watson, vice president & Chief Marketing Officer, Tel: 44(0)1707-892371, keith.watson@KTIworld.com or Janet Seaton, Communications Coordinator, Tel: 44(0) 1926-438208, janet.seaton@ktiworld.com.