Benefit programme expanded

National Instruments has announced that it is expanding its Planet NI SME Benefit Program to eight new countries around the world. NI is committed to nurturing local innovation and entrepreneurship, and, through Planet NI, the company is making engineering tools affordable, accessible and relevant to groups in emerging countries that focus on making a difference in their communities. These groups include SMEs, academic institutions and organisations creating environmental and health solutions. The eight new countries joining the SME Benefit Program are Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, the Philippines, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Because SMEs make up more than two-thirds of the local economy in many emerging regions, their success contributes greatly to sustainable economic development. The program has been very successful in countries such as India and Mexico, where Planet NI has helped more than 200 SMEs thrive since the program’s inception four years ago. Companies currently active in the program are developing products for rural villages, designing specialised machines for local industries and building solar-powered systems.

“Engineering startup companies in developing countries often lack the funds to acquire cutting-edge technologies, which puts them at a significant disadvantage,” said Victor Mieres, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Asia and Chairman of the board of Planet NI. “The skills and expertise of the engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs in these regions continues to impress us, and, through Planet NI, we can provide qualifying companies with NI technology to empower this local engineering talent and support innovation.”