Pune: Dassault Systemes, the French 3D design and engineering software giant, is deepening its commitment to India’s innovation and startup ecosystem through continued investments, expansion of its Pune R&D campus, and partnerships across key industrial sectors.
With nearly half of its global software development talent based in India, Dassault Systèmes’ Pune facility – spread across 12 acres and employing over 5,000 professionals – is now one of its largest research and development hubs globally, second only to France.
The company emphasized that India is not just a back office, but a core innovation center driving product development for global industries such as aerospace, automotive, infrastructure, and life sciences.
“In everything Dassault Systemes does – all our brands and software products – there’s a touch of India there,” said senior company leaders during an interaction at the Pune campus.
Dassault Systemes: Startups and Ecosystem Development
Dassault Systèmes CEO Pascal Dalloz said, “Dassault Systèmes is supporting over 25,000 startups globally, including more than 2000 from India, in defence, drone, and energy sectors. Many of these emerging companies are leveraging Dassault’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform for design, simulation, and research.
“Future competition will not be between individual companies but between ecosystems. Our labs are designed to bring startups, researchers, and corporates together to co-innovate. The company’s labs and incubation initiatives are providing hands-on technology access and ecosystem support, helping startups not just as beneficiaries but as active customers using world-class design and virtualization tools,” he added.
Dassault Systèmes India Managing Director Deepak N G said, “Dassault also collaborates with various state governments, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra, to set up innovation labs, aerospace and defence projects, and digital skill development programs.
Focus Sectors and Digital Transformation
Deepak said, “The company’s India operations are focused on three major sectors – manufacturing, infrastructure, and life sciences – which it sees as the core of India’s economic transformation. In manufacturing, Dassault is helping companies align with “Make in India” goals by offering design and IP creation tools. In infrastructure, the company sees a $1.2 billion opportunity for digital design and simulation technology adoption over the next three years. In life sciences, India’s exports are projected to exceed $150 billion by 2030, creating strong demand for virtual R&D and collaboration tools.”
“Dassault’s upcoming priority areas include semiconductors, high-tech hardware, and data centers, in addition to strengthening MSME and academic collaborations for skill development,” Deepak added.
Virtualization, AI, and Future Vision
Dassault Systemes’ philosophy revolves around “virtualization, not just digitalization” – enabling companies to design, simulate, and optimize their products and environments virtually before real-world implementation.
Its “virtual twin” technology is being applied in city planning, manufacturing, and life sciences, and is now accessible to Indian startups.
Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role in the company’s strategy – aimed not at replacing humans but at empowering engineers and innovators with deeper knowledge and simulation capabilities.
“India has the talent, energy, and scientific foundation to become the startup nation of the future,” said Daloz. “It’s time for India to invest more in science and innovation to lead the next industrial revolution.”
Continued R&D Investment
Despite global economic uncertainty, Dassault Systèmes continues to invest more than 25% of its global revenue in R&D – one of the highest in the software industry.
The company believes sustained investment in science and innovation is essential for long-term differentiation.
“When you cannot predict the future, you must invent it,” Daloz remarked.
With new offices in Ahmedabad and Coimbatore and a growing partner network across India, Dassault Systèmes is positioning itself as a digital backbone for India’s innovation ecosystem – empowering startups, MSMEs, and enterprises to “Design in India, for India, and for the World.”
