Dassault Systèmes and IPACS went through a value assessment during a pre-qualification phase for the South Australian government's marine and defence industry supply chain programme, the ‘Virtual Shipyard', to develop a strong domestic defence industry that will support the Federal Government's Future Submarines and Future Frigates programmes set to commence in 2020.

In the course of the assessment, Dassault Systèmes and IPACS identified each other as partners with strong and desired skills for technical and business collaboration as they explore opportunities in natural resources, defence and other key industries in Australia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dassault Systèmes will collaborate with IPACS to create an industrial demonstrator in Internet of Things (IoT) for joint exploration of these business opportunities, which will leverage IPACS' IoT sensing technology and Dassault Systèmes' software solutions on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Kailash Nath Sriram, managing director and CEO of IPACS, said: "IPACS currently operates South Australia's pioneering Remote Operation Centre for the state's resources industry. This new industrial IoT demonstrator will be a fantastic platform for IPACS in expanding our expertise to service other major industries. We look forward to working with Dassault Systèmes to explore new opportunities in natural resources, defence and other key industries in the state."

Masaki Sox Konno, managing director, Asia Pacific South at Dassault Systèmes, commented: "Asa technology partner to IPACS, already an established player in South Australia's resources sector, Dassault Systèmes brings its global expertise and best practices in industrial processes and digitalisation solutions to the collaboration. We look forward to working together with IPACS to jointly expand our technological capabilities to serve the natural resources sector, defence and our other key industries in Australia."