At Dassault Systèmes, we are thrilled to reflect on the impactful role of our virtual twin experiences in 2024. By creating smarter products that enhance daily living, transforming cities towards a greener future, and shifting medicine towards prevention, our science-based virtual twin experiences have spurred innovation across diverse sectors.
While digital twins provide 3D representations of physical objects, virtual twin experiences go further, enabling the visualization, modeling, and simulation of entire environments for complex scenarios. The process begins by designing a 3D model that accurately represents a physical product or system’s shape, dimensions and properties. Within this virtual realm, simulations are conducted to predict how the product will perform when assembled, operated or exposed to different conditions, unlocking limitless testing possibilities.
From immersive experiences and personalized products to strategic partnerships and virtual simulations, the following highlights demonstrate how companies have used virtual worlds to impact real life throughout the year. Whether using augmented reality to envision sustainable urban environments or the cutting-edge personalization of footwear, each story shows a commitment to innovation, efficiency and sustainability.
- Virtual Twin Experience helps Paris hospital protect patients and educate caregivers
Back in February, we announced a partnership with the Saint-Louis Hospital AP-HP in Paris to develop an airflow simulation and augmented reality experience. This collaboration aims to enhance the understanding of respiratory virus transmission and improve patient care using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to create a virtual twin experience.
By creating a virtual twin of the hospital’s dialysis unit, healthcare professionals could visualize how virus particles circulate in the air, gaining insights into the effectiveness of ventilation and masks in optimizing care for immunocompromised patients.
To build this virtual twin, we used building blueprints combined with a 3D scan of the room conducted on-site using our HomeByMe mobile app to ensure accuracy. We then used our SIMULIA applications, powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, to visualize, simulate and predict the transmission of respiratory and viral particles.
“Virtual twins are set to revolutionize daily patient care and infection prevention in the years ahead,” said Claire Biot, vice president of the Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry here at Dassault Systèmes.
- Piccadilly Circus takeover
For a week this spring, we launched an innovative digital out-of-home media campaign at London’s Piccadilly Lights, reaching 3 million people, and touching on every aspect of our daily lives. The campaign invited audiences to explore the impact of virtual worlds on real-life areas such as healthcare, urban development and manufacturing.
At the heart of the campaign was a striking display at Piccadilly Circus, featuring a massive 780-square-meter screen. This screen showcased groundbreaking innovations in virtual twin technology, demonstrating how imagination and innovation can lead to a more sustainable world. Every 10 minutes, an exclusive 40-second immersive video captivated viewers with 3D effects. The experience took audiences on a journey from the world’s first fully functional model of a human heart to scenes of humans and robots collaborating to create products from upcycled materials, futuristic aircraft navigating cities and pods designed to grow plants in any environment—even on the moon.
Additionally, the public was encouraged to deepen their experience via an augmented reality app on their smartphones. This app allowed users to envision a more sustainable future for Piccadilly Circus, share their experiences on social media, and learn more about the potential of virtual worlds.
- Extending partnership with JLR
Also this spring, we announced a five-year extension of our long-term strategic partnership with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), marking a new era of digital transformation for the automaker. JLR is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, designing, manufacturing, and selling some of the world’s best-known premium cars. This collaboration aims to enhance efficiency, foster innovation, and promote sustainability across the enterprise.
JLR has adopted the 3DEXPERIENCE platform globally to support the complete development process of its luxury vehicles. More than 180,000 users, including JLR business areas and suppliers, will leverage virtual twins to boost efficiency, streamline product management, save time, and reduce waste costs. This partnership underscores JLR’s dedication to responsible business practices in an industry that demands exceptional quality and personalization.
“JLR is utilizing the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to enhance its virtual twin capabilities, developing software-defined vehicles that blend hardware and software seamlessly. This systems engineering approach connects various disciplines, advancing vehicle development and ensuring the excellence expected by luxury brands,” said Laurence Montanari, vice president of the Transportation & Mobility Industry here at Dassault Systèmes.
- ASICS personalization test studio at HQ
Over the summer, ASICS launched the “ASICS Personalization Studio” at our global headquarters outside Paris. This innovative studio showcases large-scale personalization of premium footwear while employing a science-based approach to enhance physical recovery and performance.
The studio’s modular setup integrates the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and virtual twin technology with ASICS’ sports expertise, enabling on-site, on-demand manufacturing of shoe components tailored to individual specifications.
The ASICS Personalization Studio is currently testing a new service that provides on-demand sockliners customized based on foot shape data simulated using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Cutting-edge 3D printing technology is employed to create the sockliners, allowing adjustable softness levels to support recovery and improve performance.
“We share ASICS’ commitment to innovations that improve health and well-being. Our partnership reflects this by demonstrating a holistic approach to manufacturing that prioritizes the consumer experience,” said Pascal Daloz, CEO of Dassault Systèmes. “It also shows how the virtual world is catalyzing the 21st-century economy. Through their foundation in science, our virtual twins enable the industry to not only improve the performance and experience of products, but also to advance more sustainable business models.”
In 2025, the ASICS Personalization Studio will be transferred to Japan for further testing. The company plans to explore applying this technology to additional footwear products in the future.
- Virtual Twins in clinical trials
This fall, following a five-year collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we unveiled a groundbreaking guide for the medical device industry. This 44-page, peer-reviewed, open-access publication is the first of its kind and details how to employ virtual twins to streamline clinical trials.
The guide serves as a comprehensive resource for establishing credibility in a medical device in silico clinical trials, addressing the demand for faster and safer medical device evaluation. This collaboration resulted in an innovative approach, utilizing virtual twins to simulate specific aspects of patient populations with unparalleled accuracy. This method refines, reduces, and replaces the need for human and animal testing in clinical trials.
“As the healthcare industry continues to embrace digital transformation, the ENRICHMENT Playbook represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of clinical trial methodologies,” said Biot, our vice president of Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry.
- Catch us at Charles de Gaulle and St. Pancras International campaign
More recently, our “Virtual Worlds for Real Life” awareness campaign greeted travelers at major European hubs. This campaign invites travelers to explore virtual worlds through thought-provoking visuals in three of Europe’s busiest transportation hubs: Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports near Paris and St. Pancras International train station in London.
At Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2 in Paris, three dynamic screens and digital pillars, as well as a traditional billboard, feature the images at check-in, arrivals, and immigration areas, and in main corridors. Furthermore, more than 100 digital screens animate the lounges at both Charles de Gaulle and Orly. At St. Pancras International, the campaign involved 25 dynamic screens on walls, pillars and bus stops.
Premium digital and out-of-home visuals offer a glimpse of unprecedented ways to innovate in healthcare, infrastructure and manufacturing, which are only possible by virtual twins. These were showcased across more than 125 installations strategically placed in high-traffic areas of the airports.
In 2024, Dassault Systèmes pushed the boundaries of innovation across various industries, from healthcare to automotive and beyond, using virtual twin technology and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Whether transforming public engagement with digital campaigns, advancing sustainable automotive manufacturing, personalizing athletic footwear or revolutionizing clinical trials, these partnerships are driving significant advancements. These initiatives not only enhance efficiency and sustainability but also showcase the potential of digital transformation in creating a more integrated and sustainable future.
As seen in its collaborations with JLR, ASICS and the FDA, Dassault Systèmes is driving the future of technology, demonstrating the powerful impact of virtual worlds in real-life applications. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2025!
Ellie Sidel is an Intern on the Corporate Communications Team here at Dassault Systèmes. She is currently a Senior at Boston University studying Public Relations and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.