To promote the continued development of China's automotive industry and foster industry talent, General Motors and its Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center joint venture have joined EDS, Sun Microsystems and UGS PLM Software in the creation of a PACE Center at Tongji University in Shanghai.

PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) was founded in 1999. It has supported 39 leading academic institutions in 10 countries around the world through the contribution of computer-based engineering tools. Its goal is to provide students in mechanical design, engineering, analysis and manufacturing the practical skills they need for their professional careers.

The partners are providing the PACE Center at Tongji University's Jiading campus more than 700 seats of product lifecycle management software including NX, Teamcenter and Tecnomatix from UGS PLM Solutions, hardware for 50 workstations and GM-certified advanced training. The software and hardware is valued at more than US$400 million. It is the largest single in-kind contribution made in the Asia Pacific region since the establishment of the PACE program.

The Tongji University PACE Center represents the first time that a world-class automotive PLM platform is being integrated into a Chinese university's classroom and laboratory curriculum. It has tremendous significance for the cultivation of automotive engineers and the university's own long-term development.

The PACE Center will not just be open to students in automotive engineering. Students and educators from disciplines such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering and industrial design will also be invited to make use of the Center.

Among the attendees at today's PACE Center opening ceremony at Tongji University were officials from Shanghai Municipality's Department of Science and Technology and Department of Education, GM China General Manager of Beijing Operations David Chen, PATAC President Raymond Bierzynski and Executive Vice President Yu Xiuhui, EDS Global Power Systems Director Alan Tung, Sun Microsystems Greater China Region Director Tony Lam, UGS director of UGS PLM Software Global Community Relations and GO PLM programs, Hulas King, and Tongji University Committee Chair Zhou Jialun and President Wan Gang.

According to David Chen, "This donation is very important for the training of China's engineering talent. The cutting-edge CAD tools will give students essential practical experience, allowing them to contribute to the ongoing development of China's automotive industry. Our donation represents part of GM's commitment to help lead China's automotive industry into the future."

"PATAC is proud to be extending our cooperation with Tongji University to provide students advanced technology and product lifecycle management training," said Raymond Bierzynski. "Our goal is to become a world-class automotive engineering, design and testing center. We expect the PACE Center to provide students an even stronger background in automotive engineering, which is the kind of experience we need to reach our goal."

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