Siemens and HD Hyundai Set Course for the Digital Shipyard
Siemens and HD Hyundai have announced an expanded strategic partnership aimed at transforming the future of shipbuilding through the creation of a digital shipyard blueprint. The collaboration is underpinned by a low-triple-digit million USD agreement that will see HD Hyundai adopt the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industrial software and automation. Together, the companies aim to address increasing global demand for greater shipbuilding capacity and modernized production capabilities across the US and other international markets.
Creating a Connected Digital Thread for Shipbuilding Innovation
The initiative will establish a connected digital thread spanning engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and shipyard operations. By bringing these areas together, the partnership seeks to enable artificial intelligence (AI)-powered insights, intelligent automation, and data-driven decision-making throughout the entire shipbuilding lifecycle. The integrated digital backbone is designed to help shipbuilders increase production capacity while improving quality and reducing rework. By creating a more connected and efficient operating environment, the companies intend to support a more resilient shipbuilding ecosystem capable of responding to rising global demand.
A Vision for the Future of Shipbuilding
“AI is not merely a tool for improving productivity, but a transformative technology that is reshaping how ships are designed, built, and operated. By integrating AI, digital twin, and automation technologies into a connected digital shipyard environment, we aim to establish a future-ready model for the shipbuilding industry,” said H.K. Kim, President and CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering.
Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG, highlighted the complexity involved in modern shipbuilding and the role digital technologies can play in streamlining production. “To build the world’s most advanced vessels, shipbuilders must manage enormous complexity across millions of components. Through our extended partnership with HD Hyundai, we are creating a scalable blueprint for the digital shipyard of the future, with Siemens Xcelerator at its core,” he said.
Alongside the digital shipyard initiative, Siemens and HD Hyundai will support the launch of a US-Korea Shipbuilding Technology Cooperation Center in Washington, D.C. The center is intended to encourage closer collaboration between government, industry, and technology organizations while providing a platform to explore shipyard modernization strategies. It will also focus on accelerating the adoption of digital shipyard technologies and supporting workforce and industrial development initiatives that strengthen maritime competitiveness across the US and allied markets.
Through the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, HD Hyundai will gain access to software and technologies that support controlled data sharing, configuration management, digital approvals, production visibility, and lifecycle traceability. These capabilities are designed to maintain design authority and execution responsibility across a range of shipbuilding scenarios while creating a more connected and digitally enabled production environment.
