Accelrys and Air Force Research Laboratory Collaborate on Advanced Photonic Materials.

SAN DIEGO -- Accelrys Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL) today announced progress in its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate aimed at enabling accurate simulation of materials of interest to the US Department of Defense (DoD).

The focus of the project is the study of two-photon chromophores, which are key to photonic applications such as high-density data storage, alternate manufacturing methods and chem- and bio-detection.

The project is close to deriving new simulation parameters -- the data required to ensure that molecular simulation methods accurately predict properties for a particular class of materials. In addition to their relevance to DoD projects, these parameters will be of interest in many civilian applications. The CRDA enables transfer of parameters developed during the course of the project to other users of materials modeling through their incorporation in the COMPASS software. COMPASS has been developed by Accelrys for the accurate prediction of materials properties, particularly in the condensed (liquid or solid) state.

"We must work diligently to enhance the parameters for the target functional groups and to validate the force field against key experimental observables," said Dr. Rajiv Berry, AFRL's principal investigator in the collaboration, "This could lead to accurate property predictions for a variety of materials of interest to the DoD."

"We are delighted to join forces with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate," said Dr. Scott Kahn, chief science officer at Accelrys. "The project provides an excellent example of working in partnership to validate technology and to transfer it to commercial users."

Dr. David Rigby, Accelrys Fellow, who is directing scientific aspects of the project at Accelrys, said, "Working together to develop high quality parameters for use in current research projects aids AFRL by improving the efficiency and accuracy of materials property prediction and will make available new parameters and simulation methodologies for use by other users of Accelrys software products."

About The Materials and Manufacturing Directorate

The Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, AFRL/ML, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH with an additional research facility at Tyndall AFB, FL, develops materials, processes and advances manufacturing technologies for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets and ground-based systems and their structural, electronic and optical components. Their research includes revolutionary nano-scale and biotechnologies, as well as nonstructural materials such as coatings, fluids and greases. Air Force product centers, logistics centers and operating commands rely on the directorate's expertise in metallic and nonmetallic structural materials, nondestructive inspection, materials used in aerospace propulsion systems, sensor materials, laser-hardened materials, systems support and advanced manufacturing methods to solve system, expeditionary deployment and operational challenges.

More information on the AFRL/ML can be found at http://www.ml.afrl.af.mil/

About Accelrys Inc.

Accelrys Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL) is the parent of Accelrys Software Inc., 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. For more information about Accelrys, visit its Web site at http://www.accelrys.com/.

When used anywhere in this document, the words expects, believes, anticipates, estimates and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements herein may include statements addressing future financial and operating results of Accelrys. 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 described in documents Accelrys has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports 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 disclaims any undertaking 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.