Dassault Systèmes to Set Up ASEAN Virtual Twin Lab

Dassault Systèmes has signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) to establish the ASEAN Industrial AI Virtual Twin Lab in Singapore.

The planned hub will develop, validate and deploy industrial AI and virtual twin solutions across ASEAN, supporting enterprises in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The initiative plans to employ more than 30 highly skilled AI professionals within its first five years, covering AI engineering, virtual twin development, software systems design and industry consulting.

The lab is intended to strengthen the region's industrial AI capabilities while creating high-value employment opportunities.

Strategic Intent and Workforce Development

The MOU was signed in Singapore by Tan Pei Fen, Chief Financial Officer, Asia Pacific South, Dassault Systèmes, and Xu Kaixian, Vice President and Head, Industrial Solutions, Singapore Economic Development Board. Pierre Barnabé, Chief Operating Officer, Dassault Systèmes, and Png Cheong Boon, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board, witnessed the signing.

The lab aligns with Singapore’s National AI Mission for Advanced Manufacturing. Its work will combine AI, engineering knowledge and simulation on Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Virtual twins use digital models, data and simulation to help businesses assess how products, processes or operations may perform and test changes before applying them in physical 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. We look forward to partnering Dassault Systèmes to develop AI

—Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board

Three-Pillar Technical Architecture

The first pillar, the AI Data Centre Solutions Lab, will support the design, engineering and deployment of AI data centers using AI-powered virtual twin technologies. Its scope will cover capacity planning, engineering design, cooling, energy use and sustainability. The lab will also contribute research and engineering work to evaluate new energy sources for AI data centers. Tools developed in Singapore are intended to support projects across ASEAN and enable collaboration with data center operators, engineering and construction companies, and academia.

The second pillar, the AI Virtual Twins Solutions Acceleration Hub, will develop reusable AI-powered tools and implementation methods to help enterprises introduce virtual twin solutions more efficiently. This includes using AI to build and adapt virtual models, test scenarios and develop capabilities for delivering virtual twins as a service from Singapore to businesses across ASEAN.

The third pillar, the AI Product Validation and Readiness Hub, will adapt, test and optimize industrial AI and virtual twin solutions for different industries and operating environments. Activities will include localizing AI models and workflows for country- and industry-specific requirements, as well as assessing accuracy, reliability and performance. Reusable validation frameworks will support adoption across Dassault Systèmes’ portfolio and ecosystem.

The lab will also use the company’s 3D UNIV+RSES, described as a next generation of virtual twins combining physics-backed AI with modeling, real-time simulation and data science. Through industry projects, training, knowledge transfer and academic and ecosystem collaboration, the initiative aims to build a pipeline of industrial AI expertise in Singapore.

ASEAN Rollout and Enterprise Adoption

The planned Singapore hub is positioned as Dassault Systèmes’ regional base for industrial AI and virtual twin development, validation and deployment. Its activities are designed to reduce virtual twin deployment time and increase adoption across six ASEAN markets: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Singapore provides a strong foundation for developing industrial AI capabilities that can serve the wider ASEAN region. Through the mission of the Industrial AI Virtual Twin Lab, we aim to bring together AI expertise, engineering knowledge and virtual twin technologies to help enterprises address challenges ranging from data centre design to business and industrial operations. Leveraging our AI native solutions in Singapore and adapting them to regional requirements will foster a faster adoption across the whole region.

—Samson Khaou, Executive Vice-President, Asia Pacific, Dassault Systèmes

The company said regional deployment will rely on reusable tools, localized workflows and validation methods rather than a single standardized model. The lab’s operating plan combines technical development with training and knowledge transfer, with the stated goal of helping enterprises apply industrial AI and virtual twin technologies across varied country and industry requirements.