Siemens and HD Hyundai formally announced the signing of a nine-figure deal that establishes Siemens as a key technology partner for HD Hyundai’s next generation shipbuilding and digitalization strategy. Under the long-term agreement, the companies plan to accelerate the digital transformation of shipbuilding through a repeatable digital shipyard model, using Siemens Xcelerator, that modernizes shipbuilding operations, improves industrial productivity, and strengthens U.S. maritime competitiveness.
Combining HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding expertise with Siemens’ leadership in industrial AI, engineering, manufacturing, simulation, and operational software, the companies aim to help shipbuilders accelerate production readiness, improve quality, reduce rework, and create a connected digital thread across the shipbuilding lifecycle. This initiative, supported by HD Hyundai’s broader multi-million-dollar investment strategy in the U.S., aims to advance domestic shipbuilding capacity, workforce readiness, and industrial resilience.
The collaboration builds on HD Hyundai’s deployment of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio across its shipbuilding operations and reflects a shared vision to bring proven shipyard capabilities to commercial and defense shipbuilders. Together, the companies intend to create a scalable digital thread connecting design, engineering, manufacturing, production, planning, simulation, shipyard execution, and lifecycle management through a single digital backbone.
“As a leader in industrial AI, engineering, manufacturing, simulation, and operational software, Siemens is uniquely positioned to help transform how shipyards design, build and sustain the next generation of vessels,” said Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software. “This strategic collaboration is about more than technology deployment, it’s about establishing a repeatable blueprint for modern shipbuilding. By combining Siemens’ digital capabilities with HD Hyundai’s operational excellence, we can help shipbuilders improve throughput, quality, and workforce productivity while strengthening U.S. shipbuilding competitiveness.”
Together, Siemens and HD Hyundai intend to jointly develop and commercialize scalable digital shipyard solutions adaptable to shipbuilders at various stages of digital maturity, from traditional shipyards seeking modernization to advanced naval and commercial programs seeking greater scale and efficiency. The collaboration will focus on expanding opportunities in the U.S., where government and industry stakeholders are investing heavily to revitalize maritime manufacturing and expand shipbuilding capacity.
"AI is not merely a tool for improving productivity, but a transformative technology that is reshaping how ships are designed, built and operated,” said H.K. Kim, president & CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. “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. Together with Siemens, we look forward to helping accelerate the digital transformation of shipyards worldwide, while contributing to the modernization and competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry."
As part of the initiative, HD Hyundai and Siemens will support the launch of a U.S.-Korea Shipbuilding Technology Cooperation Center in Washington, D.C., designed to strengthen collaboration between government, industry and technology leaders on the digital future of shipbuilding. The center will serve as a platform for exploring modernization strategies, accelerating adoption of digital shipyard technologies, and supporting workforce and industrial development initiatives that strengthen maritime competitiveness in the U.S. and allied markets.
At the core of the transformation is an integrated digital thread powered by Siemens Xcelerator technologies, including Designcenter™ software for product engineering and ship design, Teamcenter® software for product lifecycle management and configuration control, Opcenter™ software for manufacturing operations management, Plant Simulation software for production planning and optimization, Simcenter™ for simulation and systems engineering capabilities, and Intelligence Center X for industrial AI orchestration. Together, these technologies create a common digital foundation that connects engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and shipyard operations while enabling AI-powered insights, intelligent automation, and data-driven decision making across the shipbuilding lifecycle.
“Establishing a practical blueprint creates an opportunity for shipyards to modernize operations while continuing to execute today’s critical programs,” said Brittany Ng, vice president, maritime, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “By connecting engineering, planning, and production through an integrated digital thread, we can help shipbuilders make more informed decisions earlier, reduce costly disruptions during construction and create a more connected path from concept to delivery.”
This transformation will model for U.S. shipbuilders how Siemens and HD Hyundai can establish a secure, collaborative operating environment that enables controlled data sharing, configuration management, digital approvals, production visibility, and lifecycle traceability while maintaining design authority and execution responsibility across multiple shipbuilding scenarios. The next generation digital shipyard is designed to support both greenfield modernization initiatives and phased transformation programs that allow shipbuilders to modernize without disrupting ongoing operations.
Together, Siemens and HD Hyundai aim to combine proven shipbuilding expertise and advanced industrial technologies to help create a more resilient, productive, and competitive maritime ecosystem capable of meeting future commercial and defense demands. Under the planned U.S. collaboration, Siemens and HD Hyundai intend to jointly conduct shipyard modernization assessments, develop digital transformation roadmaps, identify pilot deployments, engage government and commercial stakeholders, and create reusable digital shipyard offerings that can accelerate modernization of maritime industrial bases worldwide.
