diff --git a/matlab/invoke_openEMS.m b/matlab/invoke_openEMS.m
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a31dc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/invoke_openEMS.m
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+function invoke_openEMS( opts )
+
+if nargin < 1
+    error 'specify the xml file to simulate'
+end
+
+% opts = [opts ' --disable-dumps'];
+% opts = [opts ' --debug-material'];
+% opts = [opts ' --debug-boxes'];
+% opts = [opts ' --engine=sse'];
+% opts = [opts ' --engine=multithreaded'];
+
+filename = mfilename('fullpath');
+dir = fileparts( filename );
+openEMS_Path = [dir filesep '..' filesep];
+    
+if isunix
+	openEMS_Path = [openEMS_Path 'openEMS.sh'];
+else
+	openEMS_Path = [openEMS_Path 'openEMS'];
+end
+
+command = [openEMS_Path ' ' opts];
+disp( ['invoking openEMS simulator: ' command] );
+system(command);