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Virtual twins are moving formulation R&D from trial-heavy laboratory work toward more predictive, science-based development.
Dassault Systèmes and Groupe Rocher have announced a collaboration to strengthen Groupe Rocher’s research and development processes using virtual twin technologies. The collaboration brings together Dassault Systèmes’ science-based modeling, simulation, and artificial intelligence capabilities with Groupe Rocher’s expertise in plant-based active ingredients and natural cosmetics formulation.
Founded in 1959, Groupe Rocher is a family-owned cosmetics and wellness company behind brands including Yves Rocher, Sabon, Arbonne, and Dr Pierre Ricaud. Its R&D teams focus on plant-based active ingredients, extraction processes, and cosmetic formulations.
The collaboration addresses a core challenge in formulation development. According to the companies, finding the right formulation currently requires an average of about 30 laboratory tests. Groupe Rocher aims to reduce this effort by using a more predictive development framework that combines generative artificial intelligence, chemical modeling, simulation, and domain expertise in plant-based active ingredients.
As part of Dassault Systèmes’ Virtual Twin as a Service offering on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, its contract research team will model Groupe Rocher’s proprietary active ingredients and the skin. This will allow Groupe Rocher to analyze interactions between active ingredients and skin models, test skin penetration, and simulate formulation effectiveness earlier in the development process.
The companies expect this approach to improve R&D performance, increase agility, and shorten formulation timelines. The collaboration is expected to reduce the number of formulation trials by 20 percent, helping Groupe Rocher accelerate development while improving the scientific accuracy of early-stage formulation decisions.
The initial work will focus on the Ice Plant, which is known for its ability to adapt to extreme conditions. Groupe Rocher has already used properties inspired by the Ice Plant in the development of its Yves Rocher Lift Pro Collagene anti-aging skincare line. The collaboration is expected to gradually extend to other active ingredients.
For the formulation technology market, this announcement reflects a broader shift toward predictive, model-based R&D. Formulation-intensive industries are under pressure to improve speed, cost efficiency, regulatory readiness, product performance, and sustainability outcomes. Virtual twins, AI, and simulation tools are increasingly becoming part of the formulation workflow as organizations seek to reduce dependency on repeated physical trials while preserving scientific rigor.
This collaboration between Groupe Rocher and Dassault Systèmes directly validates the framework established in ARC’s upcoming Formulation Technologies MarketMap and Formulation Management Software MAR. Together, these research tools provide:
A transparent view of a complex supplier landscape.
A disciplined definition of FMS market boundaries and core domains.
Actionable insights into adoption patterns, capability trends, and the future of virtual-twin-driven R&D.
Whether you are an organization modernizing your formulation workflows or a supplier navigating a competitive market, this research offers a clear, forward-looking foundation.
More details on the MarketMap and MAR will be available at launch.