Contract Win

EMBARGOED RELEASE 0700 HRS                                    22 September 2004

                                  SOPHEON PLC                                  

                                  ('Sopheon')                                  

    Surface Specialties UCB Rolls Out Sopheon's Product Development System     

                       to Streamline Innovation Process                        

Implementation Extends to 12 Locations in 8 Countries

Sopheon, the international software and services company, announced today that
Surface Specialties UCB, a unit of the UCB Group and a world leader in the
production of technically innovative resins, films and adhesives for surface
applications, is deploying Sopheon's Accolade product development system in
Europe, the United States and Asia. The effort involves 12 locations in 8
countries. Surface Specialties is using the system as the backbone for a
structured, measurable innovation process aimed at improving productivity,
increasing revenue generated from new products and deriving more value from its
product portfolio. It has set a goal of achieving a 20 percent productivity
gain in 2004 and a 10 percent increase annually thereafter.

UCB Group created Surface Specialties in 2003 by combining its existing
chemicals and films divisions with the resins, additives and adhesives
offerings obtained through its acquisition of the resins business of Solutia.
The newly formed business unit subsequently decided to enhance its innovation
process by implementing Stage-Gate, a widely used product development
methodology. Surface Specialties sought to formalize and automate the process
through the use of software technology. The organization conducted a
competitive review of five product life cycle management (PLM) solutions and
selected Sopheon's Accolade based primarily on ease-of-use, high user
acceptance, its ability to strengthen portfolio management, and its unique
compatibility with the Stage-Gate process. Following a brief pilot
implementation, Surface Specialties completed roll out of the system in 90
days.

'The economic slowdown, our growth through acquisition and our focus on new
applications areas together presented a clear opportunity to craft and deploy a
product development system that would build on our legacy of innovation and
reputation for technical excellence,' said Jan Vandendriessche, global R&D
director of Surface Specialties. 'Results from the pilot and roll-out
implementations have validated Accolade's unique suitability to our needs,'
said Bau Michelet, innovation process manager Surface Specialties. 'It met all
of our objectives for increasing collaboration, creating transparency around
project progress, supporting key go/no go, prioritization and acceleration
decisions, and providing flexibility and user friendliness. We believe that
Accolade will ensure the success of our introduction of a world-class
innovation process.'

Surface Specialties UCB sought a comprehensive framework that would allow it to
manage its product development efforts from idea generation to post-launch. Its
Accolade deployment includes a process modeler that automates the product
development process and helps to ensure its successful implementation through
built-in best-practices content; idea management tools that capture, track and
enable objective evaluation of product ideas; resource planning capabilities
that allow executives and teams to clearly see where and when to allocate
project resources; and a portfolio management functionality that supports the
early identification of product winners and losers.

While all companies must produce new products, specialty chemical companies
must do so continuously to combat product commoditization and profit erosion.
Specialty chemical producers spend between 4 and 8 percent of revenues on
product research and development, while the typical manufacturer spends less
than 3 percent. Achieving productivity in innovation is a critical challenge.
Studies have determined that best-in-class specialty chemical companies
typically derive 35 percent of revenue from products introduced in the last
five years compared to 20 percent for average companies within the industry.

'Innovation is the lifeblood of today's specialty chemical manufacturers,' said
Andy Michuda, chief executive officer of Sopheon. 'Industry leaders such as
Surface Specialties are evaluating and implementing Accolade not simply to
enhance process. Most view our product development system as an integral part
of a comprehensive, organizational commitment to building a platform that will
sustain innovation, generate product portfolio value and drive growth. The fact
that Accolade is now in use at 33 chemical and chemical-related companies
around the world is testimony to the viability of a system that has been
designed to directly impact the ability of such manufacturers to reach their
top-line business goals.'

For further information contact:

Barry Mence, Chairman   Sopheon plc                  Tel : + 44 (0) 1483 685   
                                                     735                       
Arif Karimjee, CFO                                                             
                                                                               
Adam Reynolds           Hansard Communications       Tel : + 44 (0) 207 245    
                                                     1100                      
Andrew Tan                                                                     
                                                     + 44 (0) 7957 203 685     
                                                                               
Barbara Jansen          Citigate First Financial     Tel : + 31 (0) 205 754 010

About UCB Group

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium the UCB Group is a world-class
pharmaceutical and specialty chemical company employing about 12,000 people in
its Pharma and Surface Specialties sectors. With a strong presence through
operations in Europe, the United States and Asia, and agents, distributors and
licensees worldwide, its products are sold in virtually every country. For more
information, please visit www.ucb-group.com.

About Sopheon

Sopheon (LSE: SPE) is an international provider of software and services. The
Sopheon Accolade product development system automates gate- or phase-based
product development processes and provides strategic decision support that
allows companies to improve innovation, cut product development spending waste
and shorten time-to-market. Sopheon's Monitor software operates as a 'reading
robot' that automatically reviews, filters, analyzes and pushes relevant
content to healthcare and engineering professionals to enable effective
compliance with protocols, standards and regulations. Sopheon is listed on the
AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands.
For more information, please visit www.sopheon.com.

Sopheon Accolade® is a registered trademark of Sopheon plc.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the sole property of their
respective owners.