AbstractComputer‐aided generation of chemical engineering process models.The availability of adequate process models is still the most striking bottleneck for routine application of model‐based techniques in process design and operation. The development of knowledge‐based software tools to support process modeling is considered an important contribution to a solution of this problem. After a brief summary of the modeling tools offered in current simulator architectures, a future knowledge‐based modeling tool is sketched. In addition to the software engineering, the acquisition and formalization of the modeling knowledge – comprising meaningful submodels and generic modeling strategies – is essential for the feasibility of the approach and for the acceptance of a tool. Therefore, these two themes are discussed in considerable detail. Finally, first prototype developments towards a knowledge‐based modeling tool