Dassault Systèmes Q&A: Using AI Bioprinting for Healthcare

Dassault Systèmes is advancing its position as a global leader in 3D design, simulation and virtual twin technologies, empowering the healthcare and life sciences industries to innovate through digital transformation and connected virtual environments.

Through its flagship SOLIDWORKS ecosystem and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the organisation enables medical device engineers, researchers and healthcare innovators to design, simulate and collaborate more efficiently, accelerating the adoption of advanced 3D and AI-driven technologies across the healthcare sector.

As SVP of Mainstream Innovation at Dassault Systèmes, Gian Paolo Bassi plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare-focused design and engineering workflows, leading the 3DEXPERIENCE Works strategy and championing the expansion of the SOLIDWORKS community into life sciences and medtech applications.

With more than 20 years of experience in 3D, CAD and PLM application development, he has been instrumental in guiding product strategy and fostering innovation across Dassault Systèmes’ mainstream solutions, with increasing relevance to healthcare innovation and medical technology development.

His current focus includes driving AI-enabled design innovation through tools such as Aura, Leo and Marie, strengthening digital thread connectivity in healthcare ecosystems and advocating for the next generation of medical design and simulation tools at major industry events such as 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026.

Gian shares his insights with Healthcare Digital.

What is SOLIDWORKS?

SOLIDWORKS provides powerful yet simple 2D and 3D product development solutions that have been the industry standard for engineers and designers for more than 30 years.

It has evolved from a desktop CAD tool into a comprehensive ecosystem that transforms how products are designed and manufactured.

Part of Dassault Systèmes’ Metamorphosis strategy, focused on building 3D UNIV-RSES virtual twin experiences for a sustainable world, SOLIDWORKS integrates modelling, simulation and AI, enabling optimisation across the entire lifecycle - from concept to recycling.

The modern SOLIDWORKS experience is defined by “AI for Industry”, featuring three specialised virtual companions:

• Aura: Orchestrates knowledge, context and project requirements.
• Leo: Provides engineering reasoning for mechanics, motion and manufacturing.
• Marie: Delivers scientific rigour regarding materials and regulations.

By shifting the focus from “time to market” to “time to value”, SOLIDWORKS empowers everyone from startups to global luxury brands. It remains dedicated to democratising 3D design, providing mobile-ready tools powered by AI, to ensure that innovation is faster, safer and more collaborative for a global community of professionals.

What is 3D bioprinting?

3D printing is the process of creating objects by depositing layers of material on top of one another and has been around for more than four decades.

What started as a slow and costly technique, extensive technological developments have made today’s additive manufacturing (AM) technologies more affordable and faster than ever.

That said, 3D bioprinting is the next step forward.

In its current state, 3D bioprinting technology is capable of 3D Printing a variety of living cells.

As hydrogels typically contain these cells, they can be extruded to grow skin or cartilage at low temperatures. 

How is 3D bioprinting helping advance healthcare?

The real question is, where is the limit? Since its inception, 3D bioprinting has accelerated progress in regenerative medicine, drug development, tissue engineering and personalised treatments.

Furthermore, producing human-like tissue models in vitro allows researchers to test new drugs and design scaffolds safely and efficiently.

It doesn’t stop there; 3D bioprinting has paved the way for emerging technologies such as Electrospider, which has made improved precision and consistency the standard across the sector.

Ultimately, the end goal is to see bioprinters in hospitals, creating complete, patient-ready organs to save lives daily.

How is SOLIDWORKS using AI in the healthcare system?

SOLIDWORKS integrates AI CAD features known as design assistance tools.

Used to aid designers in finishing projects and increasing design accuracy, medical companies are using SOLIDWORKS’ capabilities to streamline workflows and accelerate product development across the healthcare sector. 

Features such as command prediction and smart mate suggestions streamline modelling, while automated fillet repair and stress-hotspot identification flag issues earlier in development.

If that’s not enough, AI also supports picture-to-sketch conversion and intelligent auto dimensioning, slashing significant portions of time spent on drawings and documentation.

Pair this with advanced simulation on the SOLIDWORKS Mainstream innovation platform and healthcare teams are able to validate concepts virtually, accelerating the output of safer, higher-performing medical tools to market.

Additionally, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform introduces AI-powered virtual companions like Marie; supporting healthcare professionals by investigating complex phenomena, formulating frontier questions and exploring breakthrough hypotheses.