By Courtney E. Howard

MONTREAL - Simulation company Engenuity Technologies Inc. in Montreal has acquired AcuSoft Inc. in Orlando, Fla., a software company specializing in simulation, training, visualization, and automation.

Engenuity officials plan to leverage AcuSoft’s ground-based simulation expertise and drive further into government simulation jobs-particularly where the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training & Instrumentation (PEO STRI) and Future Combat Systems (FCS) are concerned, says Patrice Commune, Engenuity’s chief executive officer.

“This acquisition will be instrumental in helping us further develop our relationship with PEO STRI as we embrace its OneSAF strategy, and will deepen our partnership with Boeing through AcuSoft’s involvement in the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program,” Commune says.

The purchase of AcuSoft marks Engenuity’s second strategic acquisition in less than a year. It is also the latest development in the company’s strategy to expand its U.S. operations and extend its simulation capabilities in the military and defense industries.

Engenuity executives anticipate enhancing the company’s STAGE Scenario with newly acquired AcuSoft expertise and technologies.Click here to enlarge image

In fact, Engenuity executives intend to further solidify AcuSoft’s established relationships and its role as a supplier to major government initiatives, such as the OneSAF Objective System (OOS) of the Army’s PEO STRI.

Engenuity developers anticipate enhancing the ground simulation capabilities of the company’s STAGE simulation toolkit with AcuSoft technologies. STAGE is a portfolio of Engenuity’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software programs-including the company’s AI.implant artificial intelligence middleware tool-targeted at developing simulation-based training systems, avionics test benches, and mission planning and rehearsal systems.

“The technology that has been developed at Engenuity, especially STAGE and AI.implant, combined with AcuSoft’s tools will greatly expand the capabilities that we can offer our current and future customers,” says Bill Szymanski, president of AcuSoft Inc. “In becoming a part of Engenuity we will be better able to expand the worldwide reach of our technology and together grow Engenuity’s influence in the American military marketplace.”

The transaction, with a potential value of $2.7 million, has received regulatory approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and is undergoing review by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Engenuity Technologies develops visualization and simulation software solutions for aerospace, defense, automotive, games, and entertainment applications.

AcuSoft develops simulation and training applications such as AcuScene real-time visualization software, the Military Scenario Development Environment (MSDE), PowerSTRIPES after-action review (AAR) tool, Electronic Classroom Management Systems (CMS), Side-by-Side database tools, and related technologies.

Company executives also have been instrumental in the development and adoption of simulation industry standards, including DIS, HLA, and SEDRIS, and the Military Scenario Definition Language (MSDL).

For more information, visit www.engenuitytech.com and www.acusoft.com.