Each year, Dassault Systèmes celebrates the most outstanding examples of innovation demonstrated by our colleagues. Since 2003, the 3DS INNOVATION Forwards competition rewards the most innovative thinkers among us. Submissions include projects from teams across all of Dassault Systèmes. In 2025, we received 453 project submissions, awarded 59 winning teams representing 3,000 people and 36 patents.
For 2025, the theme of our competition was “Fuel Innovation with Generative Experience.” Let’s break down what this means.
Innovation is a dynamic force that drives us to adapt, co-create and rethink ideas, promoting sustainable progress for our company, customers and partners. Generative Experiences are digital interactions or products created or adapted in real time by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be personalized, dynamic and contextually relevant. Unlike traditional, static digital experiences, these leverage AI models to produce new content.
Dassault Systèmes utilizes Generative Experiences throughout our solutions to help our customers better compete in a world that drives us to innovate, collaborate and envision the future more quickly.
How do the 3DS INNOVATION Forwards work?
The 3DS INNOVATION Forwards submissions process is managed through a dedicated app that lives on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. We can break down the process into three steps.
- Presentation prep: A team leader collaborates with project team members who create a compelling presentation.
- Submission: Next, the team lead submits the project to the most appropriate category through the app.
- Judging: After the submission window is closed, all submissions are reviewed by project “buddies” who review the projects for consistency. Next, employees and executives vote guided by pre-selection committees. The winning projects illustrate the best innovative, sustainable and positive impacts on society.
- The judging process is completed by the end of January and winners are announced soon after. Prizes are awarded to all winners.
Past project showcase: 2024 INNOVATION Forwards winners
In the meantime, we’d like to share a few in-depth stories celebrating our award winners from last year’s competition. The theme, “Cultivating our Growth Mindset” inspired participants to show how working together across cultures and organizations sparked real growth in their projects.
Can we prevent flooding in cities?
Climate change is worsening the threat of flooding in many cities and the future of flood mitigation lies in using virtual twins to mitigate risk. The award-winning project “Future-Proof Cities: Flooding Resilience” reveals how city leaders are using cutting-edge virtual twin experiences and smart simulations to outsmart floods before they happen.
Imagine city officials predicting flood risks, planning safe evacuations and protecting hospitals and bridges—all within one sleek digital dashboard. From what-if scenarios to dynamic risk maps, this platform helps cities stay one step ahead of rising waters.
Curious how it all comes together? Watch the video featuring Marion Milosevic, director of Cities & Public Services Industry Solution Experience, who shares how using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and our customer and partner BMT TUFLOW’s advanced flood modeling solution turns complex data into real-time action, making our cities safer, smarter and more resilient. Watch our video.
Detecting robots faster using Point Cloud
We hear a lot of buzzwords in the manufacturing world about robots, AI and virtual twin experiences, but are you curious about how this technology is specifically being used to revolutionize factories?
Check out “Automatic Robot Detection in Point Cloud,” a 3DS INNOVATION Forwards 2024 winning project that reveals the power of transforming raw scan data into instant, actionable factory insights.
Rajesh Lingham, a DELMIA R&D process engineering application senior manager, and his project team show us how they use the DELMIA Point Cloud solution to spot robots in 3D factory scans, quickly identifying and eliminating production errors without tedious manual work. Point Cloud helps create virtual twins in minutes, not days, making it easier for manufacturers to adapt, optimize and go greener, faster. Watch the video.
Could virtual human twins replace clinical trials?
“Enrichment in Silico Clinical Trial Project” is another recent Forwards winner.
Virtual twin technology is paving the way for faster access to life-saving treatments by harnessing the power of in silico (entirely digital simulations) clinical trials. Our own Steven Levine, senior director of Virtual Human Modeling at Dassault Systèmes, and the innovator behind the Living Heart project walks us through how the team uses advanced computer models, AI and virtual human twins to test how medical devices perform in realistic scenarios. Using virtual human twins enables safer, smarter and more efficient medical device designs while reducing the need for animal or human testing. Watch the video here.
Using the Concept Knowledge theory to design a bike tent
Our final Forwards winning project explores how the relationship between human creativity and AI can unlock brand new possibilities in design. Mariem Mezghanni, a 3D generative AI technology manager at Dassault Systèmes, reveals how the team used the Concept–Knowledge (C-K) theory, a proven method for igniting inventive thinking to push the boundaries of what’s possible by combining human imagination with the analytical power of AI.
Our video, “CK Theory Foundation to Unleash Innovation,” reveals how the team created a cloud solution to tackle the challenge of designing a unique bike that cleverly transforms into a tent for camping. The result is a fresh, efficient approach to design that celebrates creativity, collaboration and real-world innovation. Watch the video here.
Will you step into the spotlight this year?
In addition to the 3DS INNOVATION Forwards initiative, Dassault Systèmes recognizes excellence in Innovation all year long, including our annual Project of the Year competition for students. Check out the many other global student competitions sponsored by the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu team.
It’s part of our culture to recognize and nurture our people’s talents by offering leadership programs, mentoring and more to encourage professional growth.
Interested in learning what we have to offer you? Learn more about us at Careers at Dassault Systèmes.
Maryann is a Senior Communications Manager on the Dassault Systèmes corporate communications team. She’s been with the company for over 19 years, in roles ranging from marketing programs, communications, internal communications, creative and branding and of course, blogging.