Dassault Systèmes has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to set up an ASEAN Industrial AI Virtual Twin Lab in Singapore, positioning the city-state as the French software company’s regional hub for industrial AI.
Key Takeaways
- Dassault Systèmes has signed an MOU with Singapore’s EDB to set up an ASEAN Industrial AI Virtual Twin Lab in Singapore.
- The lab plans to employ more than 30 AI professionals within its first five years, serving enterprises in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
- It will focus on AI data centre design, virtual twin tools-as-a-service, and adapting industrial AI models for ASEAN markets.
A regional hub for virtual twins
The MOU was signed by Tan Pei Fen, chief financial officer for Asia Pacific South at Dassault Systèmes, and Xu Kaixian, vice-president and head of industrial solutions at EDB, and witnessed by Pierre Barnabé, chief operating officer of Dassault Systèmes, and Png Cheong Boon, chairman of EDB.
The lab plans to employ more than 30 highly skilled AI professionals within its first five years, with expertise spanning AI engineering, virtual twin development, software systems design and industry consulting, serving enterprises in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Virtual twins combine digital models, data and simulation to let businesses test changes to products or operations before carrying them out in the real world.
Three areas of focus
The lab’s work is organised around three areas. Its AI Data Centre Solutions Lab will support the design and engineering of AI data centres, including assessing cooling, energy use and sustainability before construction. Its AI Virtual Twins Solutions Acceleration Hub will develop reusable AI-powered tools that let enterprises build and test virtual models more efficiently, including offering virtual twins as a service. Its AI Product Validation and Readiness Hub will adapt and test industrial AI models for the region’s different industries and regulatory environments.
“Dassault Systèmes’ ASEAN Industrial AI Virtual Twin Lab supports Singapore’s ambition under the National AI Mission for Advanced Manufacturing to be a leading hub for industrial AI,” said Cindy Koh, executive vice-president at EDB.
Samson Khaou, executive vice-president for Asia Pacific at Dassault Systèmes, said Singapore’s digital infrastructure and skilled workforce give the company a foundation it can adapt for the wider ASEAN region, combining AI, engineering knowledge and simulation on its 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
