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Siemens and HD Hyundai to pioneer AI-powered shipbuilding
Strategic partnership expanded to create a “digital shipyard” blueprint, addressing the global demand for increased and modernized shipbuilding.
www.siemens.com
Siemens and HD Hyundai are expanding their strategic partnership through a low-triple-digit million USD agreement to establish a digital shipyard blueprint for the maritime manufacturing industry. The collaboration utilizes the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to integrate artificial intelligence, digital twins, and automation across the shipbuilding lifecycle.
Context of the Cooperation
Global shipbuilding operations face challenges in managing complexity across millions of vessel components while addressing growing demand for advanced capacity in the United States and international markets. Modernizing shipyards requires a connected framework to accelerate production, enhance quality, and reduce rework without disrupting active operations. To resolve these industrial complexities, cooperation was established between Siemens and HD Hyundai. The partnership combines Siemens’ industrial software, automation, and digital twin technology with HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding engineering and manufacturing expertise.
Technical Solution and Responsibilities
The technological solution centers on creating a digital shipyard architecture powered by the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to form a continuous digital thread connecting engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and shipyard operations. Responsibilities are distributed between the partners to align digital software infrastructure with shipyard execution:
- Siemens provides the Siemens Xcelerator software portfolio, digital twin frameworks, and industrial AI operating systems.
- HD Hyundai integrates the digital tools across its design, operational, and manufacturing workflows to establish future-ready shipbuilding processes.
At a system level, the integrated software suite enables artificial intelligence-powered insights, intelligent automation, and data-driven decision-making. The platform manages controlled data sharing, configuration management, digital approvals, production visibility, and lifecycle traceability while maintaining design authority and execution responsibility across variable shipbuilding scenarios. H.K. Kim, President and CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, stated that integrating AI, digital twins, and automation into a connected digital shipyard environment establishes a model to reshape how ships are designed, built, and operated. Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG, noted that connecting data, software, and automation builds an operating system for industrial AI to help shipbuilders manage component complexity, increase capacity, and reduce rework.
Deployment or Implementation
The deployment strategy is engineered to support both greenfield modernization initiatives and phased transformation programs, allowing shipbuilders to modernize operational infrastructure without interrupting ongoing construction. As part of the rollout, HD Hyundai and Siemens will support the launch of a U.S.-Korea Shipbuilding Technology Cooperation Center in Washington, D.C. The facility will serve as a platform for government, industry, and technology leaders to explore modernization strategies, accelerate digital technology adoption, and advance workforce and industrial development initiatives to strengthen maritime competitiveness in the U.S. and allied markets.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
Deployment or Implementation
The deployment strategy is engineered to support both greenfield modernization initiatives and phased transformation programs, allowing shipbuilders to modernize operational infrastructure without interrupting ongoing construction. As part of the rollout, HD Hyundai and Siemens will support the launch of a U.S.-Korea Shipbuilding Technology Cooperation Center in Washington, D.C. The facility will serve as a platform for government, industry, and technology leaders to explore modernization strategies, accelerate digital technology adoption, and advance workforce and industrial development initiatives to strengthen maritime competitiveness in the U.S. and allied markets.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
