The Companys Global Expertise in Transformational Digital Solutions at the Service of French Enterprises

VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France--Dassault Systèmes (Paris:DSY) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that it is co-leading the second phase of the French governments strategic push for industrial modernization in France. The "Industry of the Future" initiative, announced by the French government on May 18, 2015, involves a convergence of factories, connected objects, augmented reality, robotics, big data, cyber security and other technologies that parallel the companys 30 years of global technological innovation in 3D design, simulation and manufacturing.

Dassault Systèmes is an active partner of the "Industry of the Future" alliance, a group of technology companies, professional associations and academic partners whose mission is to promote the French governments program to digitally transform industry in France. Bernard Charlès, President & CEO of Dassault Systèmes, is co-president of the alliance. Dassault Systèmes will define the digitization plan behind the "Industry of the Future," build collaborative R&D projects to fill existing gaps in todays technologies, upgrade digital manufacturing methods of small and medium enterprises in France and in Europe, and foster international collaboration on this topic by pinpointing synergies.

"This alliance for the Industry of the Future is a cluster on a whole new scale, bringing together know-how and directing investments at a national level," said Bernard Charlès. "Government recognition of the issues faced and the efforts already being made to innovate are creating a new sense of enthusiasm. The challenge today is to encourage and enable the digital transformation throughout the ecosystem of mid-size companies, which are driving the competitive performance of industry as a whole, including cooperation with similar current European initiatives such as Manufacturing 4.0."

Sustainability concerns, the modernization of factories and the need for greater collaboration in global supply chains are necessitating revolutionary changes in industry today. Governments and companies in countries around the world, including Germany, the U.S., Japan and India, are recognizing the potential in launching local industrial initiatives that will immerse industry in the digital age and boost the local economy. Industrial innovation goes well beyond the walls of a factory to integrate multiple digital concepts that are revolutionizing existing processes and creating a dynamic, holistic and more sustainable production model.

For over 30 years, Dassault Systèmes has been dedicated to developing technologies and solutions that help propel digital transformation in industries ranging from aerospace to life sciences and has defined the power that the virtual world holds in stimulating business in the real world. Dassault Systèmes has engaged in organic growth and strategic acquisitions in order to establish a full portfolio of digital tools that support end-to-end industrial processes and, in parallel, is participating in initiatives dedicated to advancing world-class production technologies and processes in the U.S. (industry digitization), Germany (manufacturing 4.0), and now France.

Frances digitization for the "Industry of the Future" requires proficiency in specific domains from alliance members bringing unique perspectives on how industry can be innovative again. The initiative will rely on Dassault Systèmes expertise in helping companies worldwide transform in the following areas:

* Materials science: Advances in chemistry and materials science are leading to breakthroughs in new components which revolutionize industrial processes such as composites. New materials will be invented as a result of bio-modelization and simulation.
* Digital factories: Embedded systems, software, and electronics ensure connected products, machines, plants and people, for optimized manufacturing and operations. A digital platform is key to connecting these elements.
* Manufacturing-as-a-service: Online collaboration between all stakeholders allows for flexibility and the capacity to manage highly diverse customer requirements, and gives companies a competitive edge. Companies must be able to quickly respond and adapt to market demand throughout their value chain and include new methods such as 3D printing.
* Mechatronics and systems of systems: Model-based systems engineering is an important facet of defining, imagining and shaping virtual products and user experiences that flawlessly mimic future ones in the real world.
* Digital fabrication: fab labs offer a host of new industrial techniques and a greater degree of flexibility for making things. Start-ups in particular are able to be much more agile by limiting the risks associated with launching innovative new products.

"The industry of the future will be an industry of experiences, structured around highly agile and modular value chains," added Bernard Charlès. "We can already see how materials sciences, 3D printing and fab labs are revolutionizing the way we design, make and sell new products and solutions. Only by leveraging the possibilities offered by its ‘digital twin — digitization of all aspects of industry via innovation and collaboration platforms — will industry be able to create a sustainable future for itself."