Further Contract Win

Embargoed Release: 17th February 2004 07:00hrs

                                  Sopheon Plc                                  

                                  (`Sopheon')                                  

    Unifi Selects Sopheon's Accolade System to Implement Stage-Gate Process    

                and Support Increased Revenue from New Products                

Software Solution Reinforces Process Structure, Informs Decisions, and

               Integrates Best Practices in Product Development                

MINNEAPOLIS and LONDON_Feb. 17, 2004_Sopheon, the international software and
services company, announced today that Unifi, Inc. has selected the Sopheon
Accolade® product development system to help increase revenue generated from
new products by capturing and managing product ideas and providing an
automated, best-practice-based process structure for turning them into viable
offerings. The company has deployed Accolade to users in product development
and marketing at its North Carolina facilities and plans to extend the
implementation to include additional users in locations worldwide later this
year.

W ith global headquarters in Greensboro, NC, Unifi is one of the world's
largest producers and processors of textured yarns. Unifi products are used in
applications ranging from automotive, home furnishings and apparel to
industrial fabrics, home upholstery, hosiery and sewing thread. Like other
suppliers in the textiles and fabrics industry, Unifi has recently experienced
the negative business impact of increased importation of fabrics and apparel
and decreased consumer spending. In response to this challenge, the company is
moving aggressively to fortify its business position by developingand
introducinginnovative products and shortening development-to-market cycles.

Unifi chose the Accolade product development system after reviewing several
software solutions. A principal reason for its selection was the unique way in
which Sopheon's software reinforces Stage-Gate®, a widely used product
development process methodology that Unifi is adopting. Accolade supports the
Stage-Gate structure by providing embedded best-practice process manuals and
other specialized content that helps to ensure the steps of the process are
properly executed. Ease-of-use and the speed with which it can be deployed were
also considerations underlying Unifi's choice of the Sopheon solution.

As part of its focus on innovation, Unifi is also using Accolade to help make
sure that it takes advantage of internally generated product and technology
ideas. Accolade offers a simple idea-submission process that is made available
through the company's intranet. Submitted ideas are channeled into an automated
tracking system and archived for ongoing access and possible reuse.
Decision-support capabilities include customizable scorecards that solicit,
record, and tally idea evaluations so that every idea submitted receives
objective, appropriately thorough consideration.

'Product and service innovation is central to Unifi's strategies for defending
domestic markets, expanding globally, and ensuring the continued strength of
our company,' said Tim Albright, Unifi product development manager. 'We looked
at a range of product life cycle and portfolio management offerings that
claimed to increase product development speed and efficiency. We chose to
partner with Sopheon because Accolade communicates and reinforces Stage-Gate
best practices at every step of the developmental process, while promoting
adherence and supporting individual and team success. We concluded that
Accolade could help us drive innovation and development-to-market excellence.
It has exceeded our expectations.'

Sopheon's Accolade is the industry's first product development solution that
integrates human-based decision-support services and process-enabling
technology for the comprehensive management of product and technology
portfolios. Among the system's components are tools that enable the early
identification of product winners and losers; industry-specific research
centers that give users access to external information and expertise that can
aid in assessment of the value and feasibility of new product ideas; and
functionality that improves knowledge sharing by making question and answer
dialogue among team members available for reuse and providing pointers to
internal expertise.

Sopheon Accolade® is a registered trademark of Sopheon plc.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the sole

property of their respective owners.

About Unifi

Unifi Inc. (NYSE: UFI) is one of the world's largest producers and processors
of textured yarns. The company's primary business is in the texturing, dyeing,
twisting, covering, and beaming of multi-filament polyester and nylon yarns.
Unifi's textured yarns are found in home furnishings, apparel, industrial
fabrics, automotive, upholstery, hosiery, and sewing thread. For more
information, please visit www.unifi-inc.com.

About Sopheon

Sopheon (LSE: SPE) is an international provider of software and services.
Sopheon's 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 monitors, 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.

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