Dassault Systèmes Marks 30 Years of SOLIDWORKS with Launch of SkillForce Initiative in Thailand!

Dassault Systèmes, the global leader in 3D design and engineering solutions, has marked the 30th anniversary of its flagship product SOLIDWORKS by launching the SkillForce initiative in Thailand. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), making it the first such program in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The initiative represents a major milestone in Dassault Systèmes’ mission to bridge academia and industry by empowering students with real-world engineering skills.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by key leaders, including Gian Paolo Bassi, Senior Vice President, Mainstream Innovation & Customer Role Experience at Dassault Systèmes; Krirkrit Jearnkaonchen, Chief Operating Officer of AppliCAD; and William Lee, Sales Director, Customer Role Experience, APSOUTH. This collaboration highlights a shared vision to advance Thailand’s digital transformation goals under the Thailand 4.0 initiative — a government strategy aimed at promoting innovation, technology, and creativity as key economic drivers.

Through the SOLIDWORKS SkillForce program, Dassault Systèmes will provide software licenses to students who have achieved the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) credential and are currently undertaking internships or cooperative education programs. This initiative ensures that students can directly apply their certified skills in professional environments, enhancing their employability while helping businesses improve productivity and efficiency. By connecting academic learning with industrial application, SkillForce aims to create a future-ready workforce equipped to meet the evolving demands of the global design and engineering landscape.

Since its inception in 1995, SOLIDWORKS has become one of the most widely used design platforms, supporting over 8 million users across the world. Its impact extends through a dynamic network of 450 partners operating in more than 120 countries. Over the past three decades, SOLIDWORKS has been instrumental in shaping innovation across industries ranging from manufacturing and aerospace to consumer products and education. It has empowered engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs to transform ideas into tangible solutions with unmatched precision and creativity.

The SkillForce initiative, launched earlier this year, has already made an impressive global impact. It is now active in 53 countries, with more than 2,400 students applying to be part of the program. To date, over 200 students have been selected and equipped with advanced design skills through SOLIDWORKS’ powerful tools and training ecosystem. This growing international community of young innovators is set to redefine the future of engineering and product development.

The introduction of SkillForce in Thailand reinforces Dassault Systèmes’ commitment to nurturing local talent and supporting the nation’s industrial growth. It also demonstrates the company’s dedication to ensuring that education and technology evolve hand in hand, preparing students not just for today’s jobs but for tomorrow’s innovations. As SOLIDWORKS celebrates three decades of excellence, this collaboration with KMUTNB marks a new chapter in advancing digital skills, innovation, and sustainable development in Southeast Asia.