PARIS -– Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), and University ofTechnology, Sydney (UTS) today announced a groundbreaking partnership that will solidify existingresearch ties and broaden collaboration on applied research programs.

Under the terms of the partnership, UTS will become a member of Alcatel’s Research PartnerProgram, established to foster Alcatel’s technology innovation through tight relationships with bestin-class universities and research Institutes. UTS is the first institution of higher learning from theAsia Pacific region to join. As a member of the Partner Program, UTS brings Australian talent,research and innovation to the international stage and joins a cadre of other prestigiousinternational research organizations that collaborate with Alcatel to develop leading-edgecommunication solutions.

Initially, the global partnership will involve the engagement of several UTS faculty members in twokey areas: gaining a better understanding of what motivates consumers of communicationtechnology to use devices for interacting with one another and determining how the consumer’s“experience” in using those devices can be enhanced.

“I’m proud to welcome UTS as Alcatel’s first global research partner in the Asia Pacific region. Withits “end-user-centric” approach on telecommunications, UTS brings a special flavor to our researchactivities that will certainly be of high value for Alcatel’s future,” said Joëlle Gauthier, Vice Presidentof Alcatel Research & Innovation.

“The decision to partner with UTS makes good sense, given the positive results we have seen frompast collaboration and the University’s clear focus on applied research, practice-oriented educationand its commitment to innovation,” said Vince Pizzica, Chief Technology Officer for Alcatel inAustralia.

“R&D is a vital ingredient in Alcatel’s commitment to the industry but we must look toinnovative ways of making that investment. Adding to our already significant local investment inR&D, the partnership with UTS gives us access to Australia’s finest academics and post-graduatestudents. Above all, it gives UTS access to business-relevant and real life projects.”

Alcatel SA