Simulation enters the real world
15 Jan 2000
Imperial College's renowned Centre for Process Systems Engineering (see PE, April 1997, p27) has taken a leap into the commercial world of process simulation software and services with the launch of the company Process Systems Engineering (PSE).
A joint venture between academic entrepreneurs and the College, PSE is headed by chairman and managing director Prof Sandro Macchietto, who has taken leave from his post as deputy director of the CPSE. He is joined on the PSE board by Prof Costas Pantelides, who is leader of the gPROMS project at the Centre, and Prof Sue Birley, research director of Imperial's management school. Key IC academic staff have also joined the company as part-time consultants.
The agreement between IC and PSE includes rights to future developments in the gPROMS, gBSS and Superbatch simulation technologies.
Operating from offices in Hammersmith, West London, PSE will serve its worldwide clients through 'innovative use of the web and Internet', says Pantiledes. 'We already support over 100 users in Europe, the Americas and Asia using the web for rapid distribution of software, support, development and problem solving.'
A number of multi-national companies, such as ICI, Mitsubishi Chemicals, DuPont and Dow, are already users of PSE's simulation packages.
