Dassault Systemes said on Tuesday it has signed a collaboration with France-based natural cosmetics company Groupe Rocher to strengthen cosmetics research and development using virtual twin technology.

Founded in 1959, Groupe Rocher owns key brands including Yves Rocher, Sabon, Arbonne and Dr Pierre Ricaud, and has developed beauty and wellness products based on naturally derived ingredients.

About 200 scientific experts analyse plant ingredients and mechanisms of action, design extraction processes, and develop cosmetic formulations using proprietary active ingredients.

The companies said it currently takes an average of about 30 experiments to find the right formulation. Groupe Rocher aims to accelerate the process and improve efficiency through the collaboration with Dassault Systemes. They said combining generative AI, chemical modelling and simulation with expertise in plant-based active ingredients will provide research teams with a predictive framework, complement researcher expertise, and improve both work efficiency and results.

Dassault Systemes will model Groupe Rocher's proprietary active ingredients and skin through its Virtual Twin as a Service based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The company said virtual twins can analyse interaction data between ingredients, test skin penetration, and improve scientific accuracy from the early stages of development to simulate and strengthen formulation efficacy.

Veronique Schwartz-Boishu (베로니크 슈바르츠-부아슈), chief scientific officer at Groupe Rocher, said, "Groupe Rocher is introducing products that combine effectiveness, naturalness and sustainability through rigorous research and development based on scientific evidence." She said, "We expect that Dassault Systemes' virtual twin and artificial intelligence technologies will allow us to predict active-ingredient efficacy more precisely and develop more effective and nature-friendly formulations more quickly."

Elisa Prisner (앨리사 프리스너), senior vice president for industry, marketing and sustainability at Dassault Systemes, said the beauty and personal care industry requires more sophisticated and scientific innovation strategies amid intense competition and rising consumer expectations. She said Dassault Systemes supports customers in simulating, predicting, and optimising formulations in a secure cloud environment through science-based AI virtual twins. She said this will allow Groupe Rocher to build a scalable innovation system based on plant science and secure stronger product competitiveness.