Sylvain Laurent, executive vice-president of global field operations (Asia-Oceania) and worldwide business transformation, Dassault Systemes. CHINA DAILY

Sylvain Laurent, executive VP of Dassault Systemes, is using virtual world to help China's real world

Dassault Systemes SA, a leading European 3-D design software and product lifecycle management solutions company, sees many opportunities for business expansion in the "Made in China 2025" initiative.

Its expansion could also help Chinese manufacturers to upgrade and transform their operations.

Sylvain Laurent, Dassault Systemes' executive vice-president, global field operations (Asia-Oceania), worldwide business transformation, has been spearheading the company's "go-to-market" strategy.

Dassault's passion for all things 3-D and digital is evident in its website URL (3ds.com). Laurent, too, is given to all things virtual. "I throw myself into the virtual world to help the real world.".

Made in China 2025, a 10-year national plan to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power, means the country will not only make products but create them, said Laurent.

In line with the strategy, Dassault Systemes will focus on creation and innovation, understand consumers' needs in different industries and connect them to what is happening in the world, said Laurent.

Dassault will become a key contributor to the Made in China 2025 initiative and help diversified industries in China to innovate and transform themselves.

Despite slowing economic growth in China, Dassault Systemes posted double-digit growth in China last year.

As a provider of product life cycle management solutions, the company has more than 210,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. Its revenue reached 2.88 billion euros ($3.2 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 in future. As an important supplier of 3-D software and solutions, we are 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 environment 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," said Laurent.

Dassault Systemes has already cooperated with Chinese partners in several industries. For instance, it provides software and system solutions for the C919, China's first domestically built large passenger aircraft.

It also has established partnership with Hydrochina Chengdu Engineering Corporation to provide hydropower engineering industry solutions.

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

Its 3-D software and solutions 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 from China, Dassault has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Cybernaut, a Chinese investment group. It will focus on promoting 3-D industry park construction, 3-D talent cultivation and smart city projects.

The partners will build 3-D 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 3-D 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 cycle 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 into the market.

Three years ago, Laurent came to China. To be a successful leader, he said, 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", Laurent said.

"I think the most important advantage for me in managing difficulties is... I still consider myself young."

In his spare time, Laurent researches content on food and gastronomy. He likes cooking Western food in Chinese style. He also likes diving and traveling. "I like Sichuan province. The people there are very nice, and their food is spicy."

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