Symyx Technologies and GE Enter into Intellectual Property and Renaissance Software Licensing Agreement

Business Wire, Jan 10, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Symyx Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX) and General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), acting through GE Global Research, today announced that they have extended the intellectual property licensing agreement entered into in May, 2002, and expanded the agreement to include the license of Symyx's Renaissance(R) software. The expected term of the agreement is three years.

Under the license, GE Global Research will continue to practice certain Symyx proprietary combinatorial research methodologies covered under Symyx's issued patents and will deploy Symyx's Renaissance software for use within its central research facility. Symyx's Renaissance software offers global integration of experimental information by enabling and linking experiment design, execution and data capture, analysis and storage via a common database. The combined license is based on the number of users and projects, and Symyx will receive annual payments from GE during the term of the license.

As the pioneering company in the field of combinatorial methodologies for the discovery of new materials, Symyx has developed a broad intellectual property portfolio that includes patents, patent applications, trade secrets and know-how directed toward composition of matter, libraries, synthesis and high throughput screening methodology, instrumentation and software. Today, the patent portion of this portfolio consists of over 200 issued patents and more than 420 patent applications pending worldwide. The granted patents are directed toward combinatorial methodologies, instruments, software and novel materials.

About Symyx

Symyx develops and applies high-throughput experimentation methods, instrumentation and software to enable accelerated discovery of proprietary materials and processes in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, electronics, consumer goods, and automotive industries. Symyx offers these proprietary technologies to customers seeking to transform their research productivity through research collaborations, Discovery Tools(R) sales, and the license of discovered materials, Renaissance(R) and IntelliChem(R) ELN software, and intellectual property. Information about Symyx, including reports and other information filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at www.symyx.com.

About GE Global Research

GE Global Research is one of the world's most diversified industrial research organizations, providing innovative technology for all of GE's businesses. Global Research has been the cornerstone of GE technology for more than 100 years, and is now focused on developing breakthrough innovations in areas such as molecular medicine, alternative energy, nanotechnology, advanced propulsion and security technologies. GE Global Research is headquartered in Niskayuna, New York and has facilities in Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China, and Munich, Germany. Visit GE Global Research at www.research.ge.com.

The statements contained in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements regarding the license of patents and software by GE and license fees payable as a result of such licenses. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: (1) uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; (2) future growth strategy, including impact of acquisitions, mergers or other changes in business strategy; (3) and other risks that are described from time to time in Symyx's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (including but not limited to Symyx's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004 and September 30, 2004). If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of the assumptions proves incorrect, Symyx's results could differ materially from Symyx's expectations in these statements. Symyx and GE assume no obligation, and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.