Epicos launches cooperation with the Federation of Austrian Industry for enabling Austrian Industrial participation in global Aerospace-, Security-, and High Technology industrial cooperation and procurements

Wien (OTS) - The leading Global Industrial Co-operation,
Procurements and Offset management platform Epicos has started
intense cooperation activities in Austria with the Federation of
Austrian Industry (IV). Epicos enables up to 60 Austrian Aerospace,
Security and Dual-use companies to concurrently participate in the
Epicos and Exostar (up to 20 selected companies) technology platforms
and receive a comprehensive package of services comprising of:
- Direct visibility and promotion to the international Aerospace &
Defence community, some of its major procurement centres round the
world, especially new markets, where EPICOS is implementing similar
projects.
- Access to critical Business Intelligence Information concerning new
business opportunities, procurement tenders and research programs
from around the globe.
- Customized Procurements and Industrial Cooperation/Offset Services.
- Access and use of specialized execution tools for connecting buyers
and suppliers to conduct e-procurement and e-sourcing.
- Provision of training and support for the optimum adoption of the
new technologies and processes.

"Through the close cooperation between IV and Epicos, IV
contributes to transparency in offset processes, while at the same
time offers our members significant technology project potential from
this leading high technology network", says Christoph Neumayer, IV
Head of Marketing and Communications, and Chairman of IV’s Initiative
Industrie und Offset. "There is great potential for participating in
international tenders and we will help our members to make the most
of this."

"We are already in close cooperation with IV in order to manage
the Eurofighter offset obligations in Austria. We are prepared to
support all activities which will give an impact to the further
development of Austrian Aerospace community", Dr. Klaus-Dieter
Bergner, CEO of EBD, the Eurofighter Offset Management Firm in
Austria maintains. "In combination with the Eurofighter Technology
programs already in place, IV together with EBD will help to place
Austrian firms in a competitive position for international
contracts."

EPICOS and EXOSTAR have entered into a joint agreement to provide
a new standard on how Aerospace and Security companies manage offset
obligations through supply chain partners in foreign markets. The
combined platforms provide EXOSTAR’s global exchange standard
transaction processing for e-procurement, e-sourcing and
e-collaboration, together with EPICOS’s wealth of information and
customized Business services on Offsets, Industrial Cooperation and
Procurements.

The result is a seamless and automated e-enabled solution residing
on the industry buyer’s desktop for the management of Offset
procurement, transaction management and global supplier selection
targeted at Aerospace and Defense contract buyers and suppliers.

"It is all about Industrial Democracy in the area of Offsets &
Procurements" said EPICOS’ CEO, Christian Hadjiminas.

About IIO
The Federation of Austrian Industry founded the "Initiative Industry
und Offset" in 2004 as a proactive collaborator and guardian of the
interests of its members with regards to the Eurofighter aircraft
procurement program in Austria. This office works closely with IV
members, offset obligors, The Federal Ministry of Economics and
Labour of the Republic of Austria (BMWA) as well as Austrian
technology stakeholders.

About EXOSTAR
Exostar enables secure global collaboration across business and
supply networks for manufacturers, government agencies and aerospace
and defense organizations. Today, nearly 20,000 trading partners
trust Exostar's on-demand solutions to help manage business processes
and information across the extended supply network. EXOSTAR is
processing about 185,000 transactions per week and since March of
2001, has successfully executed over 3.5 M transactions with its
growing community of over 18,000 suppliers and 4,000 buyers. In
addition, over 3,500 engineers and supply chain professionals
communicate daily using its collaboration tools. Originally built
for the complex $400 billion global aerospace and defense industry,
Exostar's customers include BAE SYSTEMS, The Boeing Company, Lockheed
Martin Corp., Raytheon Co. and Rolls-Royce. For more information,
please visit www.exostar.com.

About EPICOS
EPICOS is currently the only Global Aerospace & Defense (A&D)
platform for Offsets Industrial Cooperation & Procurements. Epicos,
together with its Strategic Partner EXOSTAR have created a Global
Aerospace & Defense e-Marketplace, offering the following range of
Global services:
- Information Services - Procurement Tenders (currently 49,000
announcements in more than 40 countries), Business Directory (9,300
A&D companies in 46 countries), News & Information (more than 20
Global news sources), Country Profiles (Guidelines, Budgets in more
than 40 countries etc.) and Industry Clusters (business communities
built for more than 30 Industry products/technology/topics).
- Business Services - Global off-line services providing tailor-made
Offset, Industrial Co-operation and Procurement Services.
- Supply Chain solutions: e-procurement, e-sourcing, e-collaboration
and e-security services through Exostar and Terrabis the new European
platform that is currently being established.

EPICOS is active in more than 35 countries, with the objective to
reach more than 40 by the end of 2005. Furthermore, it is currently
implementing similar projects in Greece, Switzerland, Hungary,
Lithuania, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile with the imminent addition of
another 5 countries by the end of 2005 and reaching 25 by the end of
2006.

Rückfragehinweis:

IIO
   Marion Poglitsch
   [email protected]
   Tel.: +43-1-71135 - 2406
   
   Epicos.com
   Susann Byman
   [email protected]
   Tel.: + 30 210 6772 290

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