Wearable blood pressure monitoring that could change billions of lives. A robot that could lead the next agricultural revolution. Personalized, 3D-printed surgical implants. Non-invasive, real-time skin cancer detection. The list goes on.
In recent months, we’ve shared stories with you from our 3DEXPERIENCE Lab program. They’re stories about disruptive startups with breakthrough ideas bent on changing the world. But have you ever wondered how these companies, from all over the world, came to be a part of this program?
Today we take a look behind the curtain to discover the process for startups to join our open
innovation laboratory. In line with Dassault Systèmes’ history of seeking out new ideas to develop a more sustainable world, the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab was born to accelerate and nurture disruptive innovations in three key domains: city, life and lifestyle.
3DEXPERIENCE Lab selection process
People inside and outside of Dassault Systèmes can identify startups with ideas that fit in the city, life or lifestyle areas and who can benefit from access to cutting-edge technology and technical/business mentoring. Candidates be early-stage startups with a prototype.
After an idea is proposed, it is studied and nurtured within the 3DS community. The 3DEXPERIENCE Lab core team and innovation contributors of the community ask questions and challenge views to enhance the project. If after all that the startup and its mission are deemed to align with all requirements of the program, the startup moves on to the next step: a “pitch” session.
Pitch sessions happen quarterly. A committee convenes quarterly, physically and virtually, with streaming to the dedicated digital community. Project leaders who are from 3DS become deeply informed about the startup’s proposal and are coached by 3DEXPERIENCE Lab mentors in the weeks leading up to the pitch session about how to most effectively present their case.
Projects have six minutes to share their story, providing the overall context of the idea, the business case, the innovation, the challenges and any partners in the ecosystem. Both the general community and the official committee have the opportunity to ask questions and dig into the project’s promise and challenges.
The votes of the community show the general consensus, and the jury expresses its opinion, but the final decision falls to Dassault Systemes’ Vice Chairman and CEO Bernard Charlès. Using a smart buzzer connected to the platform, he can validate the idea and accept the project, reject it or request more work. Later, the reasoning behind his decision is shared with the community.
Joining the Lab program
Once selected, the startups sign a contract. This includes access to Dassault Systèmes’ suite of software, Fab Labs and business and technical mentoring. Using 3DS solutions, they’re able to make a digital twin of their prototype; using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, design, test, simulate and iterate on their product.
Our most recent pitch session took place in early July. It’s too early yet to tell you who was selected, but we can confidently say that we are excited to welcome new partners with groundbreaking ideas. As these nascent companies develop, we will share their amazing ideas with you on these pages and beyond. For now, here are a few pictures from pitch day.
You can also check out an FAQ on the Lab program. Want to apply to join the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab program? Submit your project here.
