If you ask an employee of Dassault Systèmes what we do, you might get a funny answer: everything. But here, we mean it. Though our work happens behind the scenes, it’s everywhere; we help people and companies design, test and innovate faster—and smarter—than ever. Our platform has been used to build nearly everything around us. But to an untrained eye (or to our families), our colossal impact on the world around us can go unnoticed. So this summer, our family-centered events spun the question “What do you do at work?” into a hands-on adventure, inviting our loved ones, especially the little ones, to experience innovation firsthand.
Our family-centered events are more than celebrations. They are a bold investment in the future. At Dassault Systèmes, we believe that curiosity drives innovation. This summer, our 2025 family events around the world—including Family Day at our North American headquarters in Boston and KIDS’ DAY at our global headquarters in Paris—brought this vision to life. By opening our doors and sharing our world of technology, we’re not just showcasing what we do. We’re inspiring the dreamers, creators and problem-solvers who will shape the future ahead of us. And this summer, our future looked bright as ever.
A look inside Family Day in Waltham
In August, our North American headquarters in Waltham, MA, just outside Boston, became an interactive hub of discovery for Family Day. The event gave our Boston Campus community a unique opportunity to experience technology and innovation together, connecting the complex work we do each day to the families who make it possible.
Hands-on technology and creative inspiration
Inside the 3DEXPERIENCE Executive Center, young visitors were drawn into a world where science felt playful and accessible. Throughout the center, high-tech initiatives and prototypes waited to be discovered. From internship projects to advanced robotics, every activity was designed to fuel creativity.
Intern Amit Motwani showcased his summer project —a bionic arm, hand-controlled via EMG sensors —that held the attention of even the youngest attendees. Innovation merged with art and play as the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab interns showcased their summer projects: David Torres Garcia demonstrated a floating lamp, levitating above an electromagnetic base, while Neel Rao shared his miniature Formula 1 car that he built in collaboration with the North America 3DEXPERIENCE Lab manager, Sean Farell.
The Furhat social robot, a visually-dynamic humanoid robot displayed in the exhibit, first prompted conversations by employees and families alike about the fast-moving future of artificial intelligence—and then joined the conversation! Programmed to converse in real-time with people, the Furhat social robot was a dream come true for many AI enthusiasts.
The impact of SPOT: exploring robotics in action
A highlight of Family Day was SPOT, the Boston Dynamics robot, who quickly captured the imagination of both kids and adults. This dynamic demonstration was made possible through a collaboration with Intuitive Robots and the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, an innovation hub at Dassault Systèmes focused on turning bold ideas into reality. Visitors tried their hand at guiding SPOT, gaining hands-on experience with robotics. Unlike the Furhat social robot, SPOT may not have responded to commands to “speak,” but it did dance, as many young visitors were delighted to see.
SPOT’s agility and intelligence—navigating obstacles, opening doors, responding to commands with exact precision—offered a practical glimpse into how robotics can already address real challenges in sectors like manufacturing, safety and even supply chain management. These features are the result of deep collaboration and forward-thinking design, with Dassault Systèmes solutions helping Boston Dynamics bring SPOT from concept to working reality. Encounters with SPOT transformed robotics for guests big and small. What was once a futuristic dream became reality, and the murmurs around the room echoed the same sentiment: What will they do next?
From virtual worlds to real-world impact
The rest of the campus was a flurry of activity. The connection between virtual design and physical products was evident in the presentations of our partnerships. These included Miele, a leading manufacturer of domestic appliances; LiftLabs, creators of a modular ropeless lobster trap retrieval system currently being developed in the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab; and Qargos, an innovative electric cargo vehicle company. An additive manufacturing display showed how an idea can be printed to become a functional part. The 3DEXPERIENCE Lab opened its doors to give families a look at the creative space where entrepreneurs build their projects. Indoor activities like origami and color-by-number showcased 3D and surface modeling, while food trucks, basketball, face painting and carnival booths entertained families outside.
After attending Family Day, we hope young guests leave with a sense of wonder about the innovative technologies their loved ones help create at Dassault Systèmes, as well as a deeper appreciation for how our tools shape the future. Judging by the many freshly built music boxes and painted faces around campus at the end of the day, it’s safe to say the event sparked plenty of creativity and excitement!
Ronnie Efrat, AMERICAS Customer Success Senior Manager and Co-chair of the Boston campus Employee Activity Committee (BEAC)
Our blend of high-tech exploration and community celebration comes from the pride we feel in what we do here at Dassault Systèmes. An ocean away, our global headquarters in Vélizy-Villacoublay, outside Paris, hosted its own unique event with the same core mission.
Igniting passion at Kids’ Day in Paris
In June of this year, our Paris campus hosted KIDS’ DAY, an event designed to inspire and connect Dassault Systèmes families and the children of their community. This day offered a meaningful experience where learning, discovery and shared values come together through a series of carefully crafted workshops.
Beyond discovery, we wanted to foster the sense of pride this event creates—giving employees the opportunity to share their workplace with their children or young relatives, create lasting memories together, and see firsthand how our solutions contribute to a more sustainable world.
Lisa Madani, WW Internal Communications Specialist and KIDS’ DAY Internal Communications Project Manager
Turning curiosity into hands-on problem-solving
Active engagement was central to every activity. In one workshop, participants stepped into a virtual world to design next-generation aircraft cabins. In another, they became “Guardians of the 3DS Legacy,” an escape game where teams solved challenges rooted in our company’s history. The adventure began with a journey through time, where they had to use tablets and play in groups to complete five interactive challenges, each revealing one of the five keys to innovation (and representing one milestone of the Dassault Systèmes’ legacy). Each activity was designed with purpose, making our dedication to collaboration and innovation tangible.
Fostering inclusion and breaking stereotypes in STEM
A cornerstone of KIDS’ DAY was the “Women in Science” session, created to encourage students aged 12 to 18 to explore careers in technology. Here, participants spoke directly with some of our female colleagues, who shared personal career paths and offered insights into STEM-related study tracks. This workshop, paired with an exhibit on “The Great Names of Innovation,” helped break down stereotypes and build confidence. Inclusivity is also at the heart of “Café Signe,” a workshop organized with the Disability Inclusion Office that teaches French Sign Language (LSF) in a fun, interactive setting.
Tackling global challenges through interactive learning
Many of the day’s activities centered around solving real-world problems. In “Mission Océan,” an activity built around the mission of the La Fondation initiative by the same name, teens investigated the science behind the “plastic continents” in our oceans, learning about the environmental impact and exploring creative solutions. For the day, young guests of KIDS’ DAY could imagine what it would be like to be participants of La Fondation’s Mission Ocean, using virtual worlds to learn about ocean sciences and related fields like math, physics and geography. Collaborating with educators, researchers and engineers, the digital educational program Mission Ocean inspires students to explore future careers while fostering a deeper understanding of ocean preservation.
Part of Dassault Systèmes’ IASO showcase, which brings the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to life in healthcare innovation, “Dive into the Future of Healthcare with IASO!” gave participants aged 12 to 18 a chance to step into the future of medicine. Using virtual reality, they became futuristic doctors, exploring smart medical devices that monitor treatments from home. The session turned complex tech into a hands-on adventure, letting future innovators explore connected health tools in a simulated environment. Packed with discovery and imagination, it made cutting-edge healthcare feel fun, accessible, and full of future possibilities.
As KIDS’ DAY project manager Lisa Mandani, WW Internal Communications specialist, explained, “Our vision was to inspire the next generation by bringing Dassault Systèmes’ signature—‘virtual worlds for real life’—to life in a fun and educational way. Through theatrical shows connecting elements of children’s everyday lives with our virtual worlds and hands-on workshops and activities led by our employees, we wanted to showcase how our 3D UNIV+RSES contribute to a better future, while creating moments of engagement, pride and excitement for employees, their children and young relatives.”
The event aimed to leave a lasting impression on both employees and their families. “We wanted KIDS’ DAY to provide children with a clear understanding of what Dassault Systèmes does and introduce them to our virtual worlds and 3D UNIV+RSES, while sparking curiosity, inspiring them, and particularly encouraging young girls to envision a future in STEM careers,” Madani described. “Activities like ‘Women in Science’ offered role models and an open space for discussion, while other workshops highlighted how technology can address global challenges. Beyond discovery, we wanted to foster the sense of pride this event creates—giving employees the opportunity to share their workplace with their children or young relatives, create lasting memories together, and see firsthand how our solutions contribute to a more sustainable world.”
Dassault Systèmes Events in 2025:
How does Dassault Systèmes promote learning and community?
- KIDS’ DAY Rome: A delightful event for families, fostering creativity and learning for children of all ages.
- International Day of the Girl Child: This October 11, celebrate capability with events promoting STEM education and breaking down barriers to gender equality. Check out the Instagram to learn more about Dassault Systèmes’ past celebrations for International Day of the Girl Child.
- 3DEXPERIENCE Lab in Shanghai: A milestone for innovation! The new lab, inaugurated on July 29 with over 150 guests, marks a significant step in Franco-Chinese collaboration and technological advancement.
- Meshmerize Event in Pune: Kicking off in early October, this event promises to inspire and connect minds in the vibrant city of Pune, India. Curious about Meshmerize? See this blog post to learn about a 2023 Meshmerize Event on the Boston Campus.
- TNWISE Hackathon: Empowering women engineering students, this flagship initiative by TANCAM focuses on eco-friendly innovation. Launched on International Women’s Day, it aligns with the Energy Act to foster impactful solutions and career growth.
Building the future, one family at a time
Our family events do more than bring people together. They build a bridge between our daily work and our communities. By transforming complex technologies into interactive and memorable experiences, we make our mission understandable and relatable. These days are an investment in the future, showing young people that their creativity is valued and their curiosity can change the world. At Dassault Systèmes, we believe the future of innovation starts today, with every curious question, every hands-on experiment and every spark of inspiration we help to ignite.
Read More: Inspiring the Next Generation
- Science Week 2025: Explore how global Science Week events connect communities through hands-on learning, virtual worlds, and sustainable innovation.
- Innovation and Transformation at the 3DEXPERIENCE Forum 2024: Discover how immersive digital experiences and AI workshops empower tomorrow’s STEM leaders and inspire transformation.
- Meet the 2024 Project of the Year winners!: See how students worldwide tackled real-world problems and showcased their creativity and technical skills in this prestigious competition.
- Inspiring the next generation, family style: Dive into the 2023 Kids’ Day and discover how family-focused STEM events ignite curiosity and break barriers for future innovators.
- Engineering Education | 3DEXPERIENCE Edu: Learn about Dassault Systèmes’ educational initiatives, self-paced learning and global programs building the skills of future changemakers.