SPE.L Regulatory News (SPE)

11 Mar 2009 07:00



Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Wednesday 11 March 2009

Sopheon plc

('Sopheon')

Ciba Implements Sopheon's Accolade® Solution to Help Focus Innovation Investments on Most Promising Projects

PLM Software Supports Global Initiative Aimed at Improving Innovation Governance and Increasing Profits and Revenues from New Products

MINNEAPOLIS and LONDON - Mar. 11, 2009 - Sopheon, the international provider of software and services for product lifecycle management (PLM), announced today that Ciba Inc. ('Ciba'), a leading global manufacturer of specialty chemicals, is implementing Sopheon's Accolade product portfolio and innovation process management solution. Ciba's deployment of the Sopheon system is core to a global initiative aimed at improving returns on innovation investments. The software is being used to enhance the company's capacity to govern its innovation processes and focus resources on high-value product innovation projects.  Accolade has been made available to more than 900 individuals on cross-functional teams responsible for product development at Ciba locations throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. 

Ciba's pedigree as an industry innovator began to develop more than two-and-a-half centuries ago when, in 1758, the company was founded as a trader in chemicals and dyes. In the ensuing years, Ciba has been responsible for scientific breakthroughs in areas ranging from high-performance pigments and antimicrobials, to chemical agents that keep vehicle coatings from peeling after excessive exposure to sunlight. Today the company focuses on the development and production of specialty chemicals, serving customers in more than 120 countries.

In 2006 Ciba set in motion an enterprise-wide effort called Operational Agenda. Its purpose is to strengthen the company's growth and profitability. The program is supported by six strategic pillars, including an initiative dedicated to promoting innovation.  A principal goal of that initiative is to reduce the overall number of projects in the new-product pipeline and ensure that R&D resources are focused on those opportunities that promise high business returns.  It includes Ciba's implementation of a comprehensive new framework for managing its innovation efforts.

Sopheon's Accolade solution will serve as the key software component for Ciba's management of its innovation system. The selection of Accolade was based on a mix of advantages, including the fact that it could be readily configured to Ciba's specific requirements and, once in place, was easy to use. The software's governing capabilities are expected to improve product-development efficiency and quality of execution, by prompting users to follow prescribed process steps and address the right business and technical questions at the right times to optimise the chances of success for projects in the pipeline. Project management will be enhanced by increased transparency as Accolade system managers are able to not only retrieve instant updates on the status of individual projects, but to access consolidated views that allow them to assess the cost, value and priority of projects comprising entire portfolios.

"The introduction of Sopheon's Accolade system accompanied the rejuvenation of Ciba's innovation infrastructure," said Martin Riediker, chief innovation officer for Ciba. "The solution has provided us with a state-of-the-art innovation management system. For the first time, we are able to monitor all aspects of our R&D initiatives and make truly well-informed decisions about which ones to support. As a result, we are in a position to significantly reduce the number of active projects in our development pipeline, and to back the most promising opportunities with more resources. Ultimately, Accolade will also allow us to track and assess the returns on our innovation investments.  It gives us the foundation we need to achieve profitable growth from product innovation well into the future."

Sopheon partners, Sopheon Vertriebs GmbH and Sopheon Business Applications GmbH, were responsible for the sale, implementation and support of Accolade at Ciba.

Dieter Jaeger, chief executive officer of Sopheon Vertriebs GmbH, said, "Innovation has played a critical role throughout Ciba's history. The company's current strategic initiative on innovation is a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to innovation management. Sopheon's software has been characterised by Ciba as 'the glue that holds it all together.'  With the introduction of Accolade, Ciba is moving the oversight and management of its innovation efforts to a whole new level." 

Accolade is a registered trademark of Sopheon plc

-Ends-

For further information:

About Ciba Inc.

Ciba (SWX: CIBN) is a leading global company dedicated to producing high-value effects for its customers' products.  Its products add performance, protection, colour and strength to plastics, paper, automobiles, buildings, home and personal care products and much more. Ciba is active in more than 120 countries around the world and is committed to being a leader in its chosen markets. In 2008, the company generated sales of CHF 5.9 billion from continued operations and invested over CHF 230 million in R&D. For more information, please visit www.ciba.com.

About Sopheon

Sopheon (LSE:SPE) is an international provider of product lifecycle management software and services. Its solutions help organizations increase revenues and profits from new products by synchronizing innovation planning and execution. Sopheon's Accolade® software automates the product innovation process and provides strategic decision support for the management of product portfolios. Its Vision Strategist™ solution automates the roadmapping process, allowing users to visualize and forecast the future of products, markets and technologies. Sopheon's solutions are used by industry leaders throughout the world, including BASF, Cadbury Schweppes, Corning, Electrolux, General Motors, Honeywell, Motorola, Nestle and SAB Miller. Sopheon is listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands. For more information, please visit www.sopheon.com.