More than 100 FIRST Robotics Competition Teams and more than 35 FIRST Tech Challenge Teams in 2011.

Answering the call to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational opportunities, PTC announced that it is continuing its support of Dean Kaman’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. PTC sponsors nearly 100 FRC teams as well as more than 35 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC®) teams throughout 2011.

“We are pleased to partner with companies like PTC who are truly committed to the values of FIRST and share the goal of helping students develop skills to become our engineers of the future,” said Jon Dudas, president, FIRST. “PTC provides the same software for students that is used by more than 25,000 leading manufacturing companies around the world, truly allowing them to grow into the type of talent that is in high demand by its customers and the industry.”

PTC is a Crown Supplier to the FRC for the fourth consecutive year and the official CAD and Collaboration Sponsor to the FTC for the third year, providing free software, including CreoTM Elements/ProTM (formerly Pro/ENGINEER®), Mathcad®, Windchill® and CreoTM Elements/ViewTM (formerly ProductView®) to participating teams.

“FIRST has been and will continue to be an important program for PTC. This initiative helps the youth of the world develop STEM skills that are critical not only for their success, but also for the future of innovation in this global economy,” said Robin Saitz, SVP, solutions marketing & communications and FIRST Executive Sponsor, PTC. “This year, more than 250 PTC employees have volunteered to support the program and to be mentors to teams. PTC is also sponsoring seven FIRST regional competitions and is assisting FIRST with the expansion of FIRST internationally - all with the goal of creating a lifelong interest in engineering for students.”

“Using PTC’s software, our team the Bionic Barons #2834, is putting in place a real-world design process rather than taking a seat-of-the-pants approach to designing our robot,” said Dr. Ed Law, senior engineering specialist for Chrysler. “I am able to teach the students with the same tools that my peers and I use every day in business, preparing them at a young age for future careers in the field.”

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