U.S. software giant PTC has entered into a long-term strategic collaboration agreement with Technion – Israel Institute of Technology under which PTC will establish a Research & Development center and invest NIS 15 million (approximately $4.6 million) into Technion’s Haifa campus. Under the terms of the agreement, PTC, which is traded on Nasdaq and has a current market cap of over $15 billion, and Technion will jointly research and upgrade learning processes relating to advanced manufacturing technology. PTC’s Haifa development center will relocate to Technion under the leadership of Dr. Michael Reitman. “Today, scientific and technological breakthroughs need both multidisciplinary research and close collaboration between academia and industry. Industry is at the forefront of active implementation and is well-acquainted with market needs, whereas academia brings basic scientific knowledge and research depth,” said Professor Uri Sivan, President, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. “This is why, in the past few years, Technion has placed greater emphasis on working to tighten its connections with industry, and the present agreement is the culmination of a long-standing relationship between Technion and PTC. We believe the agreement enables both parties to gain ground, grow, and reap the benefits of each other’s strengths.”