Accelrys Unveils Newest Additions to Nanotechnology Consortium; Five L

    Business Editors/Software Writers/Science Writers
    BIOWIRE2K

    SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2005--Accelrys, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL), a leader in computer-aided nanodesign (CAN), today announced the addition of five new members to the Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium. The Nanotechnology Consortium, which includes industrial researchers, academic experts and Accelrys scientists, welcomes Johnson Matthey, Schenectady International, Fraunhofer IFAM, Fraunhofer IZM and the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) as its newest members. The goal of the Nanotechnology Consortium is to accelerate the development of software tools that enable the design of nanomaterials and nanodevices.
    "Since its inception, the Nanotechnology Consortium has continued to draw significant interest from both industry and academia," said Mark J. Emkjer, president and CEO of Accelrys. "In addition to demonstrating continued progress toward our goal of accelerating our customers' ability to develop leading-edge, innovative products, today's announcement illustrates the tremendous momentum of the Consortium itself as we continue to add members."
    The Nanotechnology Consortium seeks to enhance nanotechnology R&D by fostering collaboration between scientists and engineers, two traditionally disparate groups within organizations. The Consortium provides a project framework and a detailed scientific proposal that addresses the challenges of rational nanomaterials and nanodevice design. Members receive software, the right to provide formal input into Accelrys product plans, access to regular meetings at which experiences and ideas are shared, and dedicated application support. The Consortium also offers early access to cutting-edge technology.
    Current members include Corning Incorporated, Fujitsu, e2v Technologies, Imperial College, London, and Uppsala University, Sweden.
    "We are extremely pleased to join the other members of the Accelrys Nanotechnology Consortium," said Dr. John Lorenc, Global R&D Manager of Schenectady International Inc. (www.siigroup.com). "In conjunction with the Consortium members to date and the Scientific Advisory Board, we are thrilled at the opportunity to develop modeling applications for leading-edge industrial R&D, as well as translate these cutting-edge developments into software tools."
    The Consortium is an ongoing program, organized into phases of three years. The first phase runs from July 1, 2004 to August 31, 2007.

    About Accelrys

    Accelrys, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL) is a leading provider of software for computation, simulation, and the management and mining of scientific data used by biologists, chemists and materials scientists, including nanotechnology researchers for product design as well as drug discovery and development. Accelrys technology and services are designed to meet the needs of today's leading research organizations. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information about Accelrys, visit its website at http://www.accelrys.com/.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). When used anywhere in this document, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements herein include statements regarding the future success of the Nanotechnology Consortium. Accelrys has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations about future events. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the successful implementation of Accelrys' strategic plans, the acceptance of new products, the obsolescence of existing products, the resolution of existing and potential future patent issues, additional competition, changes in economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties described in documents Accelrys has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this document are qualified entirely by the cautionary statements included in this document and such filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in this document. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Accelrys claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act and, disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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CONTACT: Accelrys, Inc. Ian Clements, (858) 799-5440 iclements@accelrys.com or Access Communications Chris Norris, (415) 844-6285 cnorris@accesspr.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE NETWORKING SOURCE: Accelrys, Inc.

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