Future maritime innovation in the generative economy

Innovation has a habit of never standing still. Take ship design. Not so long ago, most ships were built to perform under a specific set of conditions. Naval architects then discovered that relatively small design changes could create more flexible ships able to operate efficiently across a wider range of speeds, loads and environments.

Today, that need to optimize extends far beyond a single ship or process. In an increasingly complex and interconnected maritime industry, the challenge is understanding how design, construction, operations, energy choices and regulations work together, and how decisions in one area impact the rest. What’s needed is a systems-thinking approach to explore these interactions in context, testing scenarios and outcomes long before they occur.

At Dassault Systèmes, we have been building towards this with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and virtual twin technologies. And now we’re taking the next step with real-plus virtual environments where entire maritime ecosystems can be explored, understood and shaped as a whole. We call this 3D UNIVERSES.

What are 3D UNIVERSES?

3D UNIVERSES bring to life Dassault Systèmes’ vision for managing entire industrial ecosystems in the virtual world. They’re an evolution of traditional product lifecycle management (PLM), allowing companies to create connected digital versions of products, processes and entire networks, and see how everything interacts in real time.

Powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D UNIVERSES are virtual-plus-real environments that merge modeling, simulation, real-world data and AI. This evolving architecture empowers Dassault Systèmes’ customers to take full advantage of their rich libraries of 3D designs, PLM data and more, letting teams cross-simulate virtual twins, explore complex scenarios and train AI systems, all in a secure, industry-specific environment that safeguards their intellectual property.

So, instead of looking at a single ship or system in isolation, a ship owner can explore how shipyards, fleets and networks work together. This makes it possible to preempt operational decisions like fuel choices, voyage planning and maintenance schedules in context. It also helps with bigger-picture decisions such as where to deploy ships, which new propulsion technologies to invest in, how to make the fleet more sustainable and how to launch business models that simply didn’t exist before.

3D UNIVERSES and the generative marine enterprise

Tomorrow’s game-changers will be the ones who use their knowledge and expertise to generate value and take inspiration from the living world to give back to the planet. Dassault Systèmes calls this the Generative Economy, where intellectual property becomes a kind of currency and value comes as much from experience and insight as from production.

3D UNIVERSES make the Generative Economy possible by enabling new types of experiences: generative design that explores countless possibilities; AI-powered virtual companions that guide decision-making; and intelligent Virtual Twin Experience as a Service (VTaaS) that connects the virtual and real worlds.

Within all of this, the virtual representation of a ship, offshore structure, or entire shipyard, as well as all associated knowledge, becomes a highly valuable asset because it turns data into practical insights. Performance can be fine-tuned using real-time data on propulsion and operating conditions, alongside broader insights into port infrastructure, energy availability, regulatory requirements and shipyard capabilities.

By connecting virtual twins at every level, 3D UNIVERSES create a shared virtual sandbox where any scenario can be explored and its end-to-end impact understood long before decisions are made in the real world.

The pillars of 3D UNIV+RSES for marine and offshore

3D UNIVERSES combine modeling, simulation, data science and AI-generated content and experiences. They allow businesses to experiment, learn and optimize while protecting and capitalizing on their knowledge and know-how.

In practice, for marine and offshore companies, 3D UNIVERSES lead to:

• Generative engineering: AI helps teams explore designs and innovate more intelligently.

• Integrated modelling and simulation: Design and simulation work seamlessly together, speeding up validation without relying on physical prototypes.

• Synchronization of virtual and real worlds: Everything stays aligned from concept through construction, operation and maintenance, including the wider ecosystem.

• AI-powered assistance: Virtual AI companions guide teams through complex tasks and decisions.

• Immersive working environments: Extended reality provides intuitive ways to interact with virtual twins in context.

• Intelligence capitalization: Knowledge is captured, cross-checked and reused to monitor processes, manage issues and continuously improve.

Why 3D UNIVERSES matter

Every industry is being reshaped by digitalization and AI, and 3D UNIVERSES build on that momentum by providing a foundation for new ways of working and new business models.

For marine and offshore companies, this matters more than ever. Fleet renewal decisions are becoming increasingly complex, carbon-free fuel pathways remain uncertain and alternative propulsion solutions continue to emerge, driven by advances in aerodynamics and computational science. Being able to explore unlimited design options and operating scenarios in the virtual world allows shipbuilders and operators to make informed decisions about all of these things and more with confidence.

The innovations already made possible on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform are nothing short of extraordinary. We can’t wait to see what’s next with 3DUNIVERSES as we open the door to entirely new ways of designing, building and operating ships and offshore assets.

Want to find out more about the power of 3D UNIVERSES for the marine and offshore industry? Discover Dassault Systèmes solutions for the Marine & Offshore Industry.

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