Dassault Systemes to expand R&D in India.

Dassault Systèmes is looking to increase its presence in India, with major focus on the expanding scope of R&D, according to Bernard Charles, the company’s Vice-Chairman and CEO

The France-based software behemoth offers PLM and 3D modelling software, simulation apps, and industry solutions. “I think for the kind of run rate that we see in India, it is possible to double the revenue (from the Indian market) every three years,” he said.

At the opening session of ‘SOLIDWORKS’ World 2019 — which had 6,387 attendees — Charles showcased an example of SOLIDWORKS’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its application in Jaipur. Titled ‘Jaipur 3D City Project’, it went live last year. Town planners, administrators and public infrastructure departments use the platform to simulate a 3D model of the city to predict the impact of any infrastructure or construction activity.

SOLIDWORKS is Dassault Systèmes’ 3D design software unit, while 3DEXPERIENCE is its cloud-based online ecosystem for digital design, engineering and manufacturing transactions.

Ramping up projects

“There is a lot of innovation in India and a lot of sectors are highly interested to go digital. So, the first priority for us is to make sure we build proximity and presence — meaning that we train our partners properly so they can serve the clients well,” said Charles, during the event.

The company’s client base in India includes Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, VECV, Royal Enfield, Hero, Renault, Unominda, Sandhar, aerospace PSUs and Aditya Birla. “The quality of the workforce and the quality of the output of manufacturing are very important elements for ‘Make in India’, especially to elevate the quality of the infrastructure,” he said.

Citing it a “big plan for India, and with India”, Charles also spoke on his intention to grow the company’s research and development base in India. Currently, Dassault Systèmes has R&D centres in Pune and Bengaluru for all its eleven brands.

Though the automobile sector was a big consumerof Dassault Systèmes’ technology three years ago, construction and general mechanics are the biggest players now. “We are also making big things in aerospace, especially with the many investments going on in the competency centre in Bengaluru,” he said.

On the adoption of the 3DEXPERIENCE technology in India, Charles said that the capacity of Indian companies to adopt next generation platforms is “quite strong.

“Showcasing Jaipur can be a lesson for so many cities in the world. It could be a new approach to plan the city, even a new approach to increase the intermediation between citizens and agencies, because if people see what is going to be done before the construction is done, then they have a voice,” said Charles.

The company has similar projects in the pipeline in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. However, the Indian story is not devoid of challenges.

“There is an intellectual capacity in India. There’s a lot of knowledge; but not the necessary know-how. I think manufacturing is still suffering from lack of know-how,” said Charles.

Taking this into consideration, Dassault Systèmes is building competency centres for aerospace, automobile and other sectors across India.

These competency centres are called 3DEXPERIENCE Innovation Centers, wherein Dassault Systèmes collaborates with a college and a government body and provides specialised training to students in aerospace and automotive engineering.

There are currently two centres in Bengaluru and Andhra Pradesh.

There are plans to bring more such centres in Kerala, northern Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi.

The writer is in Dallas at the invitation of Dassault Systèmes.

HBL