SwRI Signs Technology Alliance Agreement with Mexico's CIATEQ

Business Wire, Sept 27, 2006

SAN ANTONIO -- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and CIATEQ (Research and Technical Assistance Center for the State of Queretaro, Mexico) have formed an alliance to share resources in pursuing technology projects in Mexico and the United States. Representatives from the two companies met August 9 in Queretaro to sign a technology alliance agreement.

SwRI and CIATEQ have had a business alliance since 1995 to pursue projects concerned with the oil and gas industry in Mexico. The new alliance extends this agreement to other industries and areas of technology.

"SwRI is rapidly expanding its international business in a wide range of research areas for a number of clients around the world," said Executive Vice President Walter D. Downing, who signed the agreement along with CIATEQ President Victor Lizardi.

"Our relationship with CIATEQ has led to several successful collaborative efforts for PEMEX, Mexico's state-owned petroleum company. This new agreement will help us combine our capabilities with CIATEQ's to provide research and development services to other clients," Downing added. During the last three years CIATEQ and SwRI have executed projects in Mexico worth more than $2.5 million.

Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio, has a staff of more than 3,000 and annual revenues in excess of $435 million. CIATEQ, located in Queretaro, employs 500 and has annual revenues of $35 million.

SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 3,000 employees and an annual research volume of more than $435 million. Southwest Research Institute and SwRI are registered marks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For more information about Southwest Research Institute, please visit newsroom.swri.org or www.swri.org.

For more information contact Deborah S. Deffenbaugh at 210-522-2046 or dsdeffenbaugh@swri.org