Osceola research facility BRIDG, Siemens cut deal

The BRIDG high-tech research facility near Kissimmee announced Friday that it has landed a deal to collaborate with the energy giant Siemens.

The partnership will develop so-called “digital twins,” or virtual replicas of physical assets, for the semiconductor industry.

Further details were not publicized, with officials saying that more information would be shared during a media event at the sprawling 109,000-square-foot building Thursday.

“Digital twins” allow researchers to test processes that could affect physical objects without harming them.

The practice has gained popularity in sectors like the automotive and energy industries, which benefit from testing on virtual products. For instance, researchers can test weather and crash effects on a driverless car using its digital equivalent.

Or a wind turbine can be tested in hurricane-force wind levels to see how it would react.

Germany-based Siemens, which employs nearly 5,000 in Central Florida, has used its software to help automate operations for manufacturing, city infrastructure and theme park clients. Orlando is home to the company’s global hub for its power-generation services and the U.S. hub for two divisions: wind power and renewables, and power and gas.

The partnership will be announced at an event that will include BRIDG CEO Chester Kennedy, Osceola County commissioners and Rob Rudder, Siemens PLM Software Executive Vice President; others also will speak.

The BRIDG facility has been seeking partnerships for its hightech research lab and clean rooms. The facility hopes to establish itself as the Southeast hub for companies looking to research sensors, optics, photonics and advanced manufacturing devices.

In October, it announced a partnership with State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. The group also has attracted partnerships with schools, including Florida International University and the University of Florida.