Sharpening the tech dimension

Dassault Systemes is using the virtual world to help China's real world, says its executive VP

Dassault Systemes SA sees many opportunities for business expansion in the Made in China 2025 initiative.

The 3-D design software and product life management multinational's expansion also is intended to help Chinese manufacturers upgrade and transform their operations.

Sylvain Laurent, executive vice-president for global field operations in Asia-Oceania and worldwide business transformation, has been spearheading Dassault's "go to market" strategy.

The France-headquartered company's passion for all things 3-D and digital is evident on its website - 3ds.com - and Laurent, too, is dedicated to all things virtual: "I throw myself into the virtual world to help the real world."

Made in China 2025, a national plan to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power, means the country will not only make products, but also create them, Laurent says.

In line with its strategy, Dassault will focus on creation and innovation, understand consumers' needs in different industries and connect them to what is happening in the world, he says, adding that the company will become a key contributor to Made in China 2025 and will help diversified industries in China to innovate and transform.

Despite the nation's slowing economic growth, Dassault posted double-digit growth in China last year.

The company has more than 210,000 customers in many sizes and industries, in more than 140 countries. Its revenue reached 2.88 billion euros ($3.21 billion) last year, up 23 percent year-on-year.

"High-tech, marine and offshore engineering, aerospace and defense industries have to deal with many challenges," Laurent says. "As an important supplier of 3-D software and solutions, we're experts in many industries and have accumulated rich experience around the world."

That experience will be used to help Chinese enterprises enhance their capacities in environmental protection and efficiency in the entire manufacturing process. Strategic cooperation agreements will be forged with more Chinese enterprises.

"Dassault will align itself with the development of innovation capacity in China. We'll create more jobs and invest more effort into technologies and resources," he says.

The company has already cooperated with Chinese partners in several industries. For instance, it provides software and system services for the C919, the nation's first domestically built large passenger aircraft. It also has established a partnership with Hydrochina Chengdu Engineering Corp to provide hydropower engineering industry solutions.

Established in 1981, the multinational uses 3-D technology to provide software applications and services, designed to support companies' innovation processes.

Its software and services have been used in the automobile and transportation industries, as well as in aerospace and aviation, energy, industrial equipment and marine industries.

Considering the huge development opportunities emerging in China, Dassault has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Cybernaut, a Chinese investment group. It will focus on promoting 3-D industry park construction, talent cultivation and smart city projects.

The partners will build industry parks to support the adoption by small and medium-sized companies of the joint venture's 3-D experience platform. They plan to work together on education to cultivate more talent for the industry and promote the construction of a smart city in China.

Laurent has more than 25 years of experience in the product life management domain, having worked previously at Siemens PLM Software and IBM PLM, as well as having created a PLM consulting and systems integration company.

He joined Dassault in 2008 and played an important role in helping the company find its way in the market. Laurent came to China three years ago.

To be a successful leader, he says, you need to be close to local culture. "What we want to do is develop leadership locally. ... You need to adapt to the global strategy (of the company) and adapt the strategy to local needs."

When faced with hardships and setbacks in life, "you will overcome the difficulties, if you don't lose force and passion", he says.

In his spare time, Laurent researches content on food and gastronomy. He likes cooking Western food in Chinese style, and also enjoys diving and traveling.

"I like Sichuan province. The people there are very nice, and the food is spicy," he adds.

Zhu Sendi, a consultant with the China Machinery Industry Federation, says: "The market potential in China is huge, and with the Made in China 2025 strategy, Dassault is certainly unwilling to lose this golden opportunity."

fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 08/05/2016 page27)