Program Provides Japanese Companies with Design Software to Address
Environmental Challenges
TOKYO, Feb 15, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Autodesk,
Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and
entertainment software, announced the expansion of its Clean Tech
Partner Program to Japan. The Japan program marks the first step in a
planned expansion into Asia Pacific. The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner
Program provides Digital
Prototyping software to clean technology companies, with the goal of
accelerating innovation and addressing some of the world's most pressing
environmental challenges.
The program is open to all early-stage clean tech companies in Japan and
has an initial focus on the electric vehicle market, in which Japan is a
proven leader. SIM-Drive and Nano-Optonics Energy are the first Japanese
companies to have joined the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program.
SIM-Drive develops in-wheel motors for electric vehicles. Nano-Optonics
Energy is a nanotechnology, environment and energy research and
development company.
Autodesk defines the clean tech industry as companies engaged in
developing products or services to address the causes of environmental
problems through technology and related business models. Launched in
July 2009, the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program has provided design
software to hundreds of clean technology entrepreneurs in North America
and Europe, including:
-
KOR EcoLogic, who designed the first prototype car with a body created
using a 3D printer and that uses a hybrid electric/gasoline engine;
-
Springboard Biodiesel, a producer of processors that turn vegetable
oil into biodiesel; and
- Pyrum
Innovations, a start-up working on a new recycling process for
used tires.
Morio Kizawa, president of Autodesk Japan, said, "As the world's fifth
largest emitter of greenhouse gases, Japan is committed to being a part
of the solution to this global challenge.Japanese companies are
redefining themselves through environmental leadership. For example,
Japan accounts for 70 percent of the electric vehicle patents filed
globally. The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program aims to help Japanese
clean tech entrepreneurs create a more sustainable world. It enables
companies to accelerate innovation and bring their unique technologies
to the global market, while reducing costs and development time."
Autodesk software helps customers design, visualize and simulate their
projects before they are built, rather than using physical prototypes.
Since as much as 80 percent of a product's environmental impact is
determined by decisions in the design phase, the potential impact of
this shift is profound. In the automotive industry, Autodesk software
enables companies to optimize car design, while enabling faster and more
numerous iterations without the need for more costly physical prototypes.
Blaine McFarlane, mechanical engineer, KOR EcoLogic, said, "Being part
of the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program has allowed us to build our
start-up company with a solid software foundation that will easily scale
as we grow; from prototype design to mass production. We are using
Autodesk software to design our prototype vehicle, simulate its
performance, and produce stunning digital renderings. Partnering with
Autodesk has brought us one step closer to our goal of building Urbee,
the greenest car on the planet."
"The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program is a great opportunity for
SIM-Drive," said Hiroshi Shimizu, president of SIM-Drive. "Using
software such as Autodesk Alias, we're benefiting from Digital
Prototyping. We hope that the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program
encourages more clean tech start-ups to deploy their concepts."
Hiroshi Fujiwara, president of Nano-Optonics Energy, said, "The cost of
design software can be a burden on small and early-stage companies.
Taking part in the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program has given us
access to optimal design and engineering software. We believe the
Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program is an effective initiative to help
clean tech companies grow and bring their ideas to fruition."
About the Clean Tech Partner Program
The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program supports early-stage clean
technology companies by providing design and engineering software that
accelerates their development of solutions to the world's most pressing
environmental challenges. Each Autodesk Clean Tech Partner in Japan will
receive up to 22 million JPY of design software for only 10,500 JPY.
Access to a collection of industry leading Autodesk software
applications includes up to five licenses of:
For complete program information, including application process details
for the Clean Tech software grant in Japan, visit www.autodesk.co.jp/cleantech.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D
design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the
manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and
entertainment industries - including the last 15 Academy Award winners
for Best Visual Effects - use Autodesk software to design, visualize,
and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in
1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of
state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information
about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Alias, Inventor, Navisworks,
Revit and Showcase are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk,
Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other
countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names
or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the
right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and
pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for
typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2011 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
SOURCE: Autodesk, Inc.
for Autodesk, Inc.
Ryota Nomura, +81 3 5427 7361
autodesk@golinharris.com
or
Roohi Saeed, +65 9028 3425
roohi.saeed@autodesk.com
