NEC Corporation has announced the signing of a Technology Partner Program Agreement with Siemens Industry Software (Siemens), marking a major step forward in advancing global solutions in 3D robot simulation and smart manufacturing. This strategic collaboration aims to combine the technological strengths and global reach of both companies to accelerate innovation, optimize manufacturing efficiency, and support customers’ digital transformation journeys worldwide.
Under this agreement, NEC and Siemens will integrate their respective technologies and resources to jointly develop and promote next-generation manufacturing solutions that enable automation, productivity improvement, and AI-driven decision-making. The collaboration reflects both companies’ shared vision of a fully digitalized and intelligent factory ecosystem that bridges the gap between the physical and virtual worlds.n
Building on Complementary Strengths
NEC has developed a cutting-edge digital twin solution designed to help manufacturers optimize worksite operations, improve productivity, and transition to fact-based management models. This solution leverages advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and simulation technologies to replicate real-world manufacturing environments in digital space, providing real-time insights and predictive capabilities. The initiative is part of NEC’s “BluStellar” value creation model, which focuses on delivering data-driven innovation to industries worldwide.
Meanwhile, Siemens continues to play a leading role in driving digital enterprise transformation. Through its Tecnomatix® software portfolio, Siemens enables manufacturers to model, simulate, and optimize production processes in a virtual environment—reducing time to market, minimizing costs, and enhancing operational resilience.
By combining NEC’s digital twin and AI expertise with Siemens’ world-class simulation technology, the two companies aim to empower global manufacturers to achieve smarter, faster, and more efficient production.
Joint Development of Next-Generation Robot Teaching Automation
At the core of this partnership is the joint development of a robot teaching automation solution that integrates NEC’s proprietary “Robot Task Planning” digital twin service with Siemens’ “Process Simulate” software, a leading 3D robot simulation platform. This powerful combination enables manufacturers to automate complex robot teaching processes—traditionally a time-consuming and highly manual task.
Historically, designing and coordinating the movement of multiple industrial robots required significant human expertise, as engineers manually created detailed motion plans for each production task. This “teaching” process is labor-intensive and costly, often leading to delays in production line setup and limiting scalability.
NEC’s Robot Task Planning software addresses these challenges through an AI-powered algorithm that automatically optimizes and generates coordinated robot motion plans. Siemens’ Process Simulate software, on the other hand, allows manufacturers to conduct virtual robot simulations in a digital environment, enabling testing and validation of robot operations without halting production lines.
Through their integration, NEC and Siemens have developed a seamless interface where NEC’s Robot Task Planning functionality operates directly within Process Simulate. With a single click, users can now create optimized motion plans for multiple robots—drastically reducing engineering workload, minimizing setup time, and enhancing production accuracy.
This integrated solution complements Siemens’ existing automation tools by improving the speed, precision, and scalability of robot programming. It also enables manufacturers to shorten production line commissioning periods, enhance cycle times, and transfer operational know-how more efficiently—critical advantages in today’s fast-moving manufacturing landscape.
Driving Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Era
“Through this collaboration, we can bring innovation to manufacturing in the DX era by integrating the ‘NEC Robot Task Planning’ digital twin—which promotes on-site optimization through AI-driven digitization, analysis, and simulation in digital spaces—with Siemens’ global platform,” said Kosuke Hidashima, General Manager, Technology Services Software Division, NEC. “Together, we will create value as we contribute to our customers’ enhanced productivity and competitiveness.”
“At Siemens, we are proud to support NEC in advancing global leadership in robotics using the power of digital twin technology and AI,” added Kunihiko Horita, Country Manager and Vice President for Japan, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “By integrating NEC’s cutting-edge Robot Task Planning solution with Siemens’ Process Simulate, we are enabling manufacturers to dramatically accelerate robot teaching, reduce setup time, and unlock new levels of productivity. This collaboration demonstrates how Siemens’ commitment to digital transformation and intelligent automation is helping our customers and partners like NEC deliver smarter, faster, and more resilient manufacturing solutions to customers worldwide.”
A Shared Vision for the Future of Manufacturing
The NEC–Siemens partnership represents a significant milestone in the evolution of smart factories. By combining AI, digital twins, and 3D simulation technologies, the two companies aim to empower manufacturers to transition toward highly automated, data-driven operations. This collaboration not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to the creation of sustainable and flexible manufacturing systems capable of adapting to global market changes.
As digital transformation continues to reshape industries, NEC and Siemens are positioning themselves at the forefront of industrial innovation—helping customers around the world achieve new levels of productivity, resilience, and competitiveness through intelligent automation and connected manufacturing ecosystems.
