3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 Recap: Pioneering the Future of Design, Robotics, AI, and Additive Manufacturing

The highly anticipated 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025, an annual gathering orchestrated by Dassault Systèmes, recently concluded, bringing together a vibrant community of thousands of professionals, innovative designers, skilled engineers, passionate makers, and creative minds. Held from February 23rd to 26th in the dynamic city of Houston, Texas, this landmark event served as an unparalleled platform for exploring the latest breakthroughs within the extensive SOLIDWORKS ecosystem. Attendees delved into the most pressing and contemporary issues surrounding 3D technologies, gaining invaluable insights into the future of design and manufacturing. 3Dnatives was on the ground for the initial two days of the conference, capturing the essence of the event and bringing you the most significant news and highlights.

3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 featured an incredibly dense and diverse program, spanning three full days packed with engaging lectures, groundbreaking announcements, captivating live demonstrations, and extensive opportunities for interaction with the public. A standout feature, consistent with previous editions, was the “Playground.” This interactive space allowed Dassault Systèmes and its esteemed exhibitors to showcase live machinery, innovative solutions, and practical applications, fostering direct engagement and dialogue with attendees. The overarching sentiment derived from participating in 3DEXPERIENCE World is undeniably one of belonging to a vibrant, collaborative community. This community shares a deep-seated passion for technology and professional advancement, eagerly anticipating annual reunions to forge new synergies, exchange knowledge, and uncover all the cutting-edge developments from the expansive 3D world and beyond. It’s a place where ideas converge, partnerships are born, and the trajectory of future innovations is set.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Command the Spotlight

The foundational and most discussed themes at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 were unequivocally robotics and artificial intelligence. Throughout the myriad of lectures and presentations, senior executives from Dassault Systèmes and SOLIDWORKS shared the stage with representatives from leading companies and individual users who extensively integrate SOLIDWORKS and advanced 3D technologies into their core business operations. The sheer breadth of applications demonstrated was astounding, ranging from intricate ice cream production machines to sophisticated humanoid robots. Dassault Systèmes’ primary objective was to underscore this versatility: showcasing how the intelligent combination of 3D modeling with other critical skills and emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, robotics, or 3D printing—can expedite the creation of cutting-edge, highly optimized products. This synergistic approach not only enhances efficiency but also unlocks unprecedented avenues for groundbreaking, avant-garde projects.

The inaugural day of the event proved to be particularly captivating, setting a high bar for the discussions that followed. The first general conference featured prominent figures like Marc Raibert, the visionary founder of Boston Dynamics and executive director of its Robotics & AI Institute, alongside an appearance by Spot, the iconic robot dog. Raibert eloquently highlighted the diverse and often unexpected applications companies are now finding for Spot, powerfully demonstrating robotics’ capacity to address real-world challenges. He cited examples such as navigating complex, inaccessible, or dangerous environments for human workers, and autonomously collecting vital information about surrounding conditions as key benefits, underscoring the practical utility of advanced robotic systems.

During his presentation, Marc Raibert also elaborated on Atlas, the renowned humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics. Exhibiting an athletic prowess comparable to a human, Atlas is capable of performing sophisticated maneuvers such as jumping, running, and maintaining impeccable balance, even withstanding significant pushes and bumps without falling. A key distinction from Spot is Atlas’s capacity for autonomous action, moving and reacting without direct human control, thanks to its advanced array of sensors and integrated artificial intelligence. Raibert underscored that in a complex engineering feat like Atlas, both software and hardware components are equally critical to its design and functionality, operating in perfect symbiosis.

In this sophisticated development, 3D printing emerged as a pivotal technology. Atlas’s design ingeniously incorporates a blend of 3D printed parts crafted from lightweight yet strong titanium and aluminum alloys. This strategic use of additive manufacturing enabled the engineers to achieve the critical strength-to-weight ratio essential for Atlas to execute its astonishing acrobatic feats, including complex jumps and somersaults. Raibert detailed the significant advancements, stating, “Through the integration of advanced design methodologies, CAD software, and 3D printing, we were able to significantly reduce the weight of an earlier Atlas prototype, which initially weighed approximately 350 pounds (158 kg). The current iteration, standing at 1.5 meters tall, now weighs only about 160 pounds (72 kg), a testament to the power of these integrated technologies.” This demonstrates how 3D printing not only facilitates rapid prototyping but also enables the production of highly optimized, performance-driven components previously unattainable through conventional manufacturing methods.

The demonstration of Atlas sparked a profound and continuous debate throughout the entire event, focusing on the expansive possibilities and the evolving role of robotics, 3D technologies, and AI in shaping humanity’s future. According to a compelling report by Morgan Stanley, projections suggest that by 2050, the United States could host an impressive 63 million humanoid robots. This figure is particularly striking considering the ongoing, rapid development of humanoid robotics worldwide. Discussions centered on how these advanced machines might be deployed: primarily to alleviate humans from repetitive, strenuous, or dangerous tasks, but also to address looming labor shortages in countries grappling with declining birth rates and aging populations. These are merely a few examples of their potential impact. Observing Atlas in action makes one undeniable truth clear: this future, though sometimes daunting, is no longer a distant fantasy but an increasingly tangible reality on the horizon.

3D Printing: A Cornerstone Technology at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025

Analyzing the role of 3D printing at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 reveals its significant presence, with the technology taking center stage on multiple occasions throughout the event. On the second day, a particularly illuminating session featured Aurora De Acutis, President of Bio3DPrinting company and a distinguished Researcher at the University of Pisa. De Acutis presented the revolutionary Electrospider 3D bioprinter, captivating the audience with insights into its groundbreaking potential. This cutting-edge device holds the distinction of being the 3D bioprinter with the largest print volume currently available on the market, uniquely capable of fabricating complex 3D cellular constructs using an impressive array of five different bioprinting techniques at an industrial scale. Her presentation underscored the profound implications of bioprinting for medical advancements, regenerative medicine, and the future of organ tissue engineering.

Shifting focus to the vibrant “Playground” and the main exhibition space, while dedicated 3D printers were not overwhelmingly abundant, the area was rich with innovative applications and compelling projects utilizing additive manufacturing. Notably, re:3D, a Texas-based manufacturer renowned for its large-format and affordably priced extrusion machines, showcased remarkable applications of their Gigabot machine. Their demonstrations highlighted the transformative potential of reusing recycled plastic through pellet-based extrusion, addressing critical sustainability challenges in manufacturing. In contrast, the booth of Impac Systems Engineering, a local Texas service bureau, featured an impressive display of diverse parts. These components were fabricated using a variety of materials and cutting-edge technologies, including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), demonstrating the versatility and high-performance capabilities of modern additive manufacturing. Additionally, Anisoprint unveiled its new Anisoprint NOVA machine at 3DEXPERIENCE World, a specialized system designed for continuous fiber composite 3D printing using carbon fiber or basalt, promising enhanced material strength and performance for industrial applications.

3D printing also held a prominent position within the energetic Makers area, a space specifically designed to illuminate the myriad possibilities of leveraging SOLIDWORKS software across an extensive range of industries and innovative applications. We had the opportunity to discuss this exciting facet of the event with Chinloo Lama, User Experience Design Director at Dassault Systèmes and the visionary organizer behind the Makers space.

Lama shared her insights, explaining, “This year, our deliberate intention was to amplify the visibility of applications that are often underrepresented at events of this scale. This includes showcasing the versatile utility of SOLIDWORKS for industries such as fashion design and for fostering a broad spectrum of creative projects. Furthermore, we aimed to inspire and empower makers by unveiling the intricate secrets of 3D printing. We demonstrated how they can seamlessly integrate advanced software like SOLIDWORKS with this transformative technology to achieve truly remarkable results, whether through producing parts with highly specialized functionalities or crafting unusually innovative and aesthetically compelling designs.” Her comments underscored the event’s commitment to broadening the perception of 3D printing beyond traditional industrial applications.

Crucially, this vibrant Makers space also served as an emphatic platform to highlight the indispensable importance of diversity and inclusion within the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Reverting to the broader impact of digital technologies on human life, Lama added a poignant reflection: “The relentless advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and a plethora of new technologies are poised to fundamentally reshape our daily lives. When we consider the sophisticated development of humanoid robots, it becomes unequivocally clear that every individual—men, women, and people from all backgrounds—must play an active and meaningful role in shaping this future. It is paramount that everyone’s voice is not only heard but truly valued, ensuring that we learn from the past and proactively avoid repeating historical missteps in the progression of technology and society.”

Key Announcements and Innovations Unveiled at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025

As is customary at this leading annual event, 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 served as the platform for unveiling an array of significant new features and crucial updates for the SOLIDWORKS 2025 CAD software. These enhancements are meticulously designed to significantly accelerate and streamline the part design process. Noteworthy updates include the introduction of enhanced capabilities for quickly selecting edges to be chamfered, dramatically improving workflow efficiency. Additionally, engineers will benefit from the ability to effortlessly copy assembly components, complete with their intricate associated advanced and mechanical couplings, thereby simplifying complex assembly tasks. Furthermore, the creation of tables in technical drawings has been considerably simplified through improved configuration tables, complemented by substantial advancements in material management and representation, ensuring greater accuracy and ease of use.

Beyond software updates, the event was also a prime opportunity to announce groundbreaking new partnerships that promise to expand the reach and capabilities of Dassault Systèmes’ ecosystem. Among these was the strategic collaboration between Dassault Systèmes and KUKA, a global powerhouse in industrial automation and robotics, recognized as one of the foremost manufacturers of robotic arms extensively used in additive manufacturing processes. Through this alliance, Dassault Systèmes, with its powerful 3DEXPERIENCE platform and comprehensive suite of applications, will be seamlessly integrated into mosaixx, KUKA’s cutting-edge digital ecosystem for industrial software solutions. The overarching objective of this partnership is to furnish manufacturing industries with holistic, end-to-end solutions that effectively address the escalating demands for advanced robotics and automation, driving efficiency and innovation across production lines.

In another significant announcement that captured widespread attention, Dassault Systèmes revealed a pioneering partnership with Apple. This collaboration aims to seamlessly integrate the immersive Apple Vision Pro augmented reality viewer into the very next generation of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Thanks to the innovative “3DLive” application specifically developed for visionOS, the sophisticated virtual twins created within the platform will transcend the confines of the screen, manifesting directly into physical space. This revolutionary capability will enable users to interact with their designs in an unprecedentedly immersive manner, fostering deeper understanding and collaborative opportunities. The much-anticipated launch of Dassault Systèmes’ new 3DLive application for the Apple Vision Pro is slated for release starting this summer, promising to redefine interaction with 3D models.

In summation, 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 undeniably highlighted the immense and transformative potential inherent in the world of 3D technologies. The event served as a powerful showcase, illustrating both what is currently achievable and, more inspiringly, what vast possibilities lie on the horizon. It stood as a landmark occasion for all enthusiasts and professionals deeply engaged with 3D technology, unequivocally demonstrating Dassault Systèmes’ unwavering commitment to driving innovation. The company’s vision is to continuously inspire professionals and passionate individuals alike to harness technology not just as a tool, but as a crucial ally to humankind, tirelessly working in the service of progress and a more advanced future.

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