Innovation in action: A year in events

2025 was a year defined by rapid technological advancement and a renewed commitment to sustainability.

Across the globe, industries grappled with complex challenges, from energy transitions to the evolution of manufacturing. Dassault Systèmes remained at the forefront of these conversations, hosting and participating in a series of events that showcased how virtual worlds are reshaping our reality.

This year, we demonstrated that the convergence of science, artificial intelligence and virtual twins isn’t just a futuristic concept, but a tool driving tangible progress. From the streets of Paris to the skyline of Seoul, here is a look at the key moments that defined our year.

Unveiling potential at 3DEXPERIENCE World

We kicked off the year with a big moment. In February, Dassault Systèmes unveiled a landmark collaboration with Apple, announced at 3DEXPERIENCE World in Houston, Texas. This partnership marks a significant step forward in bridging the physical and virtual realms, integrating Apple Vision Pro’s advanced spatial computing capabilities with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Central to this collaboration is the introduction of the 3DLive app, which allows users to view and interact with virtual twins directly in their physical workspace using Apple Vision Pro. This immersive, real-time experience enables designers, engineers and teams across industries to visualize complex 3D models with scientific accuracy, accelerating both collaboration and innovation.

With 3DLive and the broader integration of spatial computing, Dassault Systèmes is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for product design, manufacturing and workforce training. Virtual twins are no longer confined to digital displays. They can now seamlessly interact with real-world environments, enhancing decision-making and operational agility.

This collaboration reflects Dassault Systèmes’ ongoing commitment to delivering next-generation tools that adapt to evolving market demands while setting new benchmarks for accuracy, usability and industry impact.

The Only Progress is Human: Act for Sustainable Energy

In the springtime, the final chapter of the five-year-long The Only Progress is Human campaign took place in Paris. The Act for Sustainable Energy initiative brought the concept of sustainable power to life in the heart of the French capital. As global energy consumption rises, the need to balance it with environmental preservation has never been more critical.

This event focused on how virtual twins help us model and transition to cleaner energy ecosystems, and how Dassault Systèmes customers are already making significant progress toward this important goal.

The highlight of this initiative was the Energy Experience, an immersive augmented reality journey that transformed iconic Parisian landmarks into vibrant displays of sustainable innovation. Through a dedicated web app, the public engaged with nine different energy solutions inspired by nature. This display brought virtual twins – typically a behind-the-scenes technology for companies – to the public sphere, engaging passersby and introducing them to the power of the concept.

By visualizing energy production and consumption in a virtual environment, we illustrated how cities can evolve into virtuous energy ecosystems. The event underscored a core philosophy of Dassault Systèmes: the harmonization of product, nature and life. Innovative solutions exist, and by harnessing virtual twins, we can ensure a cleaner future without compromising our natural ecosystems.

2025 Paris Air Show: Bringing AI to aerospace

As summer heated up, our teams flew to the biannual Paris Air Show. The aerospace and defense sectors face a unique set of challenges: increasing complexity, stringent safety regulations and the urgent need for sustainability. At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Dassault Systèmes showcased the new concept of 3D UNIV+RSES, meant to harness the power of virtual twins and transform their capabilities as components of larger digital universes.

Our presence at the show highlighted how AI-powered generative experiences are transforming the entire aerospace value chain. We demonstrated how these technologies enable engineers to imagine and develop new products with “experience” at the core.

Key demonstrations included:

• Automated production: Using virtual twins to optimize airframe manufacturing and ensure quality certification.
• Lifecycle management: Integrating data science to reduce maintenance costs and improve operational efficiency.
• Workforce training: preserving critical know-how and training the next generation of engineers in a secure virtual environment.

The event made it clear that the future of flight depends on the ability to blend virtual and real worlds. By doing so, the industry can achieve the speed, sovereignty and sustainability required for the next era of aviation.

Science Week 2025: Where deep science meets deep tech

October’s Science Week 2025, held this year in Boston, Massachusetts, served as a gathering point for the world’s leading scientific minds. This year’s theme centered on the “Age of the Generative Economy,” exploring how deep science and applied technologies are converging to solve humanity’s most significant challenges.

The Virtual Human Twin Experience Symposium

A major component of Science Week was the 11th Virtual Human Twin Experience Symposium. This event brought together a global community of researchers and industry leaders to discuss the concept of virtual twins of the human body.

Building on the success of the Living Heart Project, the symposium explored how AI and multiscale modeling are accelerating personalized medicine. By creating accurate digital representations of human anatomy, researchers can:

• Improve patient outcomes: Tailor therapies to individual physiological characteristics.
• Accelerate drug development: Test new treatments in virtual clinical trials, reducing the reliance on traditional ones.
• Break down silos: Facilitate collaboration across medicine, biology and data science.

The symposium reinforced the idea that virtual worlds allow us to see the invisible, providing new ways to understand and treat the complexities of the human body.

Unveiling the future of manufacturing in Seoul

In November, the focus shifted to Seoul, specifically the bustling Gangnam district, for our Future of Manufacturing campaign. Manufacturing industries are the pillars of many national economies, yet they face pressure to become more efficient, resilient and sustainable.

Utilizing a massive 3D LED screen, we unveiled a visually stunning campaign that showcased the transformative power of AI and virtual twins. The centerpiece was a film depicting the creation of a car—one of the world’s most complex manufactured goods.

Passersby had the chance to witness the entire lifecycle of a vehicle, from the initial spark of generative design to the rigorous testing of simulations and, ultimately, to the assembly line where humans and robots work together in harmony. The campaign showcased several critical advancements in the industry. Generative design, powered by AI, creates optimized structures that significantly reduce material waste. Simulation allows virtual prototypes to be tested and refined for performance before physical production begins. Meanwhile, virtual manufacturing streamlines assembly processes in a completely risk-free digital environment.

The event successfully demonstrated that virtual worlds aren’t merely for visualization; they’re essential tools for streamlining industrial processes and achieving technological independence.

Looking ahead to 2026

The events of 2025 illustrate a clear trajectory, and that path forward isn’t slowing down any time soon. With 2026 on the horizon, we’re gearing up for a full slate of conferences, celebrations, industry meet-ups and more, including the next iteration of 3DEXPERIENCE World this February in Houston, Texas. Registration is now open for that event. 

Dassault Systèmes continues to prove that virtual worlds are key to improving the real world. By providing the tools to model, simulate and perfect our ideas in the digital realm, we empower industries to innovate with confidence and responsibility. As we move forward, the integration of AI and science-based simulation will undoubtedly remain the driving force behind sustainable progress.