Tech Soft 3D Joins AOUSD, Accelerating 3D Interoperability with CAD in OpenUSD and NVIDIA Omniverse Workflows

BEND, Ore. & SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Tech Soft 3D, a leading global provider of software development tools for engineering applications, and NVIDIA have announced a significant collaboration focused on advancing the Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) framework and the NVIDIA Omniverse™ platform. This strategic alliance aims to enhance 3D data interoperability, particularly within Computer-Aided Design (CAD) workflows, a critical area for industries ranging from manufacturing and architecture to media and entertainment.

As a testament to its commitment to open standards and collaborative development, Tech Soft 3D has officially joined the Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD). The company will actively contribute alongside NVIDIA and other prominent alliance members to the ongoing evolution and definition of the OpenUSD standard. This participation is expected to bring valuable expertise from Tech Soft 3D's extensive experience in handling complex engineering data and CAD formats.

OpenUSD, originally developed by Pixar Animation Studios, is a powerful framework for describing, composing, simulating, and collaborating within 3D worlds. Its adoption is growing rapidly across various industries seeking to create interconnected 3D pipelines and digital twins. NVIDIA Omniverse, built on OpenUSD, is a platform for connecting and building custom 3D pipelines and simulating large-scale virtual worlds.

The collaboration between Tech Soft 3D and NVIDIA is poised to address a long-standing challenge in the 3D industry: the seamless exchange of data between disparate software applications and formats. CAD data, in particular, often presents complexities due to proprietary formats and intricate geometric and metadata structures. By integrating Tech Soft 3D's robust data access and translation technologies with OpenUSD and Omniverse, the partnership aims to streamline the process of bringing CAD models into OpenUSD-based workflows, enabling richer simulations, visualizations, and collaborative experiences.

Since 2022, NVIDIA has been actively licensing and integrating key technologies from Tech Soft 3D, including the HOOPS Exchange toolkit, which provides high-quality access to over 30 CAD file formats. This existing relationship has laid the groundwork for the deeper collaboration announced today, focusing on optimizing the flow of CAD data into the OpenUSD ecosystem.

The joint efforts within AOUSD will likely focus on defining best practices and developing extensions to the OpenUSD standard to better accommodate the nuances of engineering and manufacturing data. This could include improved handling of product manufacturing information (PMI), assembly structures, materials, and other critical data embedded within CAD files.

This development is significant for the broader 3D ecosystem and has particular implications for companies leveraging or planning to leverage OpenUSD and NVIDIA Omniverse for their digital transformation initiatives. Enhanced interoperability reduces friction in workflows, saves time and resources, and unlocks new possibilities for simulation, AI integration, and real-time collaboration in 3D environments.

Market Context and Implications

The increasing demand for digital twins, industrial metaverse applications, and advanced simulation capabilities is driving the need for robust 3D data interoperability. The manufacturing, automotive, architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors, heavily reliant on CAD data, stand to benefit significantly from these advancements. The collaboration between Tech Soft 3D, a leader in engineering software components, and NVIDIA, a powerhouse in accelerated computing and AI, underscores the growing importance of open standards like OpenUSD in facilitating this digital transformation.

This partnership strengthens the OpenUSD ecosystem and enhances the value proposition of the NVIDIA Omniverse platform by making it more accessible and functional for users working with complex CAD data. It signals a move towards a more connected and interoperable future for 3D workflows across industries.

Investment Insights for NVDA

For investors in NVIDIA (NVDA), this collaboration is a positive development. It reinforces NVIDIA's strategic focus on expanding the OpenUSD ecosystem and solidifies Omniverse's position as a key platform for industrial digitalization. Improved CAD interoperability directly addresses a major pain point for potential Omniverse users in manufacturing and engineering, potentially accelerating adoption and increasing the platform's revenue potential.

While this specific announcement may not immediately impact NVIDIA's financials, it represents a foundational step in building out the infrastructure necessary for long-term growth in the industrial metaverse and digital twin markets. Investors should view this as a positive indicator of NVIDIA's commitment to fostering an open, interconnected 3D ecosystem, which is crucial for the sustained success of its Omniverse platform and related hardware solutions.

This development aligns with NVIDIA's broader strategy to become a central player in the creation and simulation of virtual worlds, extending its reach beyond traditional gaming and data centers into industrial and enterprise applications. Continued progress in OpenUSD adoption and Omniverse functionality, driven by collaborations like this, could contribute to NVIDIA's future revenue streams and market leadership in these emerging areas.