Agilent to acquire Scientific Software

Palo Alto, Pleasanton, CA—Agilent Technologies Inc. and privately held Scientific Software Inc. (SSI) report that Agilent will acquire SSI, which provides scientific information management solutions.

By Control Engineering Staff May 31, 2005

Palo Alto, Pleasanton, CA— Agilent Technologies Inc. and privately held Scientific Software Inc. (SSI) report that Agilent will acquire SSI, which provides scientific information management solutions. The transaction is subject to the usual closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SSI had annual sales of more than $18 million in 2004. It employs about 80 people, most of whom are expected to join Agilent.

The two firms say their merger will combine Agilent’s analytical instrumentation, data systems and services with SSI’s chromatographic data systems and informatics. Agilent reportedly will have one of the largest installed bases of chromatographic data systems, with more than 120,000 installations, and one of the broadest portfolios of laboratory informatics software in the life science and chemical industries.

‘We believe our combined product portfolios will enable customers to unify their lab needs with one software application, handling diverse data, applications, and instruments from multiple vendors in one seamless and secure environment,’ says Jim Miller, software director for Agilent’s Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis division. ‘Scientists can collaborate across laboratory operations, linking information from a wide range of instrument platforms and data sources.’

Miller adds that the acquisition will enable Agilent to provide software for the whole life cycle of analytical information, from data acquisition to knowledge management and retention.

SSI’s main products include:

OpenLAB, which is a Web-based software framework that brings together a modern chromatography data system with enterprise content management and business process management. It allows laboratories to managing all their instruments, electronic content, and processes in one platform.

EZChrom Elite, which can control more than 290 instruments from 26 vendors. It’s available standalone or integrated into OpenLAB, and can be configured to serve chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, and food-based applications.

Enterprise Content Manager (ECM), which is software that provides a secure, central repository and content services that allow organizations to capture, manage, legally sign, archive, and re-use business-critical information. Agilent has been the exclusive distributor of SSI’s ECM since July 2004.

Business Process Manager (BPM), a workflow solution for streamlining, automating and optimizing laboratory business processes while enabling seamless collaboration between people, processes and content.

Following the acquisition, Agilent adds that it plans to continue development and support of these product lines with a commitment to open systems, industry standards, and interoperability with other instrument hardware and software providers. Agilent also plans to support and enhance SSI’s instrument OEM partnerships.

‘Our experience working with Agilent during the past year has shown that our two companies have excellent technological synergies,’ says Soheil Saadat, Ph.D., SSI’s president and CEO. ‘We believe that the combination of Scientific Software’s leading-edge software products with Agilent’s software, instrumentation and global distribution channels will enable us to deliver world-class products, solutions and services to our customers and partners.’

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com