Dassault Systèmes and NTT Communications announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin discussions on their alliance aimed to drive the creation and operation of sustainable smart cities in Japan. The two companies will use virtual twin technology and big data to explore solutions to challenges related to sustainability and resilience in multiple domains such as energy, starting with electrification challenges in mobility and other areas, as well as support companies that bring innovative technologies and new value to this sector. As sustainability regulations grow and urban populations continue to rise, cities are confronted with complex challenges that require more precise planning, development and management to optimize quality of life for their inhabitants. In parallel, cities and their infrastructure are getting smarter through the increased availability of sensor data. Under the alliance, Dassault Systèmes and NTT Com will jointly, efficiently and collaboratively execute projects related to buildings, districts, and city management, in which a collaborative platform and virtual twin technologies will be deployed to orchestrate projects on the full value chain, manage sensor data, and simulate energy optimization, among other initiatives. In the future, they plan to expand the scope of their alliance to projects in mobility, tourism and disaster prevention. They will demonstrate their smart city projects at CROSS LAB for Smart City, an innovation hub opened by NTT Com in Japan in April 2021, and aim to work with diverse companies on imagining the smart cities of the future in Japan.