Aveva & Assystem strike Europe critical infrastructure deal

AVEVA and Assystem have signed a strategic partnership in Europe focused on France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

The partnership targets critical infrastructure sectors including energy, nuclear, defence and other essential services, where operators are under pressure to modernise systems and processes.

The deal formalises a broader effort by both groups to combine industrial software with engineering and operational technology integration for customers managing complex assets. Cambridge-based AVEVA develops industrial software used across design, operations and information management, while Assystem is an engineering group with a long track record in highly regulated infrastructure projects.

The arrangement builds on a relationship developed over several years. Earlier work included projects involving Schneider Electric, and the collaboration had already been outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed three years ago.

Critical sectors

The focus on critical and sovereign infrastructure reflects a wider shift across Europe. Governments and industrial groups have placed greater emphasis on reshoring production, securing supply chains and upgrading strategic assets as energy policy, defence requirements and industrial resilience rise up the agenda.

In that environment, software suppliers and engineering firms are forming closer ties to offer integrated services rather than standalone tools. For operators of nuclear sites, power networks, manufacturing plants and transport systems, the challenge is often not only choosing software but fitting digital systems into existing operational environments without disrupting safety or regulatory compliance.

The partners said their roadmap combines AVEVA's software, Assystem's engineering and operational technology integration, and a shared approach to deployment in sensitive industrial settings. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Assystem's role is likely to be central in sectors where projects involve long timelines, extensive oversight and stringent security controls. The group says it employs 8,000 experts across 13 countries and is particularly active in nuclear engineering, where digital tools are increasingly used to improve asset management, design coordination and project delivery.

AVEVA said more than 90% of leading industrial enterprises use its software, which helps manage engineering data, operations information and industrial workflows across the lifecycle of large assets.

Existing ties

The announcement also highlights the continuing overlap between industrial software and the wider Schneider ecosystem. AVEVA has longstanding links to Schneider Electric, and some earlier collaboration was developed alongside the French industrial technology group.

That matters because many infrastructure owners now want fewer suppliers handling a broader range of functions, from engineering design and data management to operational systems integration. Partnerships between software vendors and engineering specialists can help meet that demand, especially in projects where retrofit work is more common than building from scratch.

The emphasis on sovereignty is also notable. Across Europe, officials and industrial operators have become more cautious about control over data, infrastructure and strategic assets. That has created demand for technology arrangements that can be deployed within domestic or tightly governed operating environments, particularly in defence-linked industries and nuclear energy.

Sébastien Ory, VP EMEA Channel Partner, AVEVA, outlined the company's view of the market in a statement accompanying the announcement.

"This new phase of our collaboration responds to a strong market demand. Reliable, secure, and immediately deployable digital solutions are essential to modernising critical infrastructure. AVEVA and Assystem are joining forces to support this transformation at scale. Combining AVEVA's technologies with Assystem's expertise in engineering and OT integration will provide our industrial customers with an integrated offering that enables them to enhance performance, safety, and sustainability while achieving their objectives faster and more effectively," said Sébastien Ory, VP EMEA Channel Partner, AVEVA.

Digital pressure

Industrial groups across Europe have been under pressure to improve project execution and operational efficiency while also meeting stricter environmental and security targets. In many cases, that means replacing fragmented systems with common data environments and digital tools that can be used from early design through to operation and maintenance.

For engineering companies, this creates an opportunity to move further into digital delivery. Rather than acting only as design and project management contractors, firms such as Assystem are looking to play a bigger role in implementing digital platforms and integrating information systems with plant operations.

Laurent Hackenberger, Vice President Business Development Digital, Assystem, said the partnership reflected those changes.

"As sovereignty, resilience, and industrial performance become increasingly critical priorities, engineering organisations must fully leverage the opportunities offered by digital transformation. The integration of advanced digital platforms-combining traditional engineering tools with the capabilities of artificial intelligence-has become a key enabler for accelerating industrial asset development and optimising the entire value chain, from cost control to project delivery. By strengthening our partnership with AVEVA, we are bringing to market a unique combination of technologies and expertise that enables industrial organisations to design, develop, and operate their most strategic projects more efficiently," said Laurent Hackenberger, Vice President Business Development Digital, Assystem.