Innovation that transforms society
At Dassault Systèmes, we empower startups, innovators, and businesses to imagine, design, and build a more sustainable world using the power of virtual worlds.
The 3DEXPERIENCE Lab is Dassault Systèmes open innovation laboratory that accelerates high-impact startups by giving them access to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the Cloud, advanced design and simulation tools, a global ecosystem of mentors, experts and partners, marketing and communication support, and access to Fab Lab for prototyping facilities. A zero-equity, impact-focused, mentoring-based, highly selective accelerator programme, the Lab has a global footprint with presence in Paris, Boston, Pune, Munich, Shanghai, and São José dos Campos.
HARNESSING OPEN INNOVATION FOR HUMANITY’S CHALLENGES
Rising temperatures, intensifying heatwaves, and multiplying wildfires signal accelerating climate crises – amplified by resource scarcity, geopolitical tensions, and growing inequalities. Innovation is no longer optional. If you are an early to mid-stage startup working on solving a tough-tech challenge for a better, sustainable world, consider applying to the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab program.
SUPPORTING OUR STARTUPS
The 3DEXPERIENCE Lab supports startups by offering, for two years, a comprehensive set of tools and resources to accelerate their growth, including Dassault Systèmes’ world-class software for design, simulation, manufacturing, and product lifecycle management, as well as access to fabrication labs for prototyping, marketing, and communication support, and technical mentorship from Dassault Systèmes experts. The Lab programme is equity-free, and all intellectual property remains entirely with the startup.
PITCH PROCESS
Every 4-6 months, the Lab team shortlists six startups from across the world to pitch to Dassault Systèmes’s senior leadership. The final selection combines executive evaluation with live internal voting open to all employees. Startups are assessed based on the problem they address, the strength of their team, and their ability to leverage the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and Dassault Systèmes’ solutions to accelerate their growth.
If your idea is disruptive, meaningful, and backed by a passionate team, and if you’re ready to harness world’s best design, engineering, simulation and data management tools to drive change – the Lab programme is for you!
STARTUP SUCCESS STORIES
NetZero
Agricultural activities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions, while soils in tropical developing countries often suffer from poor fertility. Traditional soil improvement methods rely heavily on fertilisers, which are costly, environmentally damaging, and insufficient to address climate change.
NetZero addresses this by scaling biochar production from agricultural residues in tropical regions. Biochar sequesters carbon in soils for centuries while improving soil health by enhancing water and nutrient retention, correcting acidity, and supporting microbial life. Its use reduces fertiliser dependence, boosts crop yields, and strengthens resilience – making NetZero a powerful solution for climate mitigation and sustainable agriculture.
Flint Paper Battery
Flint Paper Battery addresses the challenge of accelerating the global transition to green energy, at a time when 84% of the world’s power still relies on fossil fuels and only 2% has shifted to renewables over the past twenty years. A major barrier is energy infrastructure, particularly battery technology, which remains toxic, expensive, dependent on scarce materials like lithium and cobalt, and poses safety and recycling challenges.
Flint Paper Battery has developed a new class of paper batteries made from natural, abundant materials. Using engineered cellulose reinforced with a hydrogel that acts as both separator and electrolyte, and paired with zinc and manganese, the batteries are water-based, fire-safe, leak-proof, and remain functional even when cut. They compost within six weeks, produce no harmful waste, and are far cheaper and easier to scale, enabling clean energy storage without the environmental cost of conventional batteries.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2026 issue of Startups Magazine. Click here to subscribe
