(Yicai Global) July 24 -- European Dassault Group's 3D printing software arm will move its Asia-Pacific headquarters to Shanghai's Pudong district from Japan's Tokyo this year to hone its strategy, according to an executive.

Dassault Systemes decided to move its entire Asia-Pacific focus to Shanghai, Executive Vice President Sylvain Laurent told Yicai Global in a group interview yesterday. The firm will also build a life science innovation center in the eastern city.

Velizy-Villacoublay-headquartered Dassault Systemes makes software for high-end manufacturers with more than 210,000 clients, Yicai Global learned. Some of its Chinese customers include the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, China Shipbuilding, and China General Nuclear Power.

Shanghai has a very good business environment, and with the move the company should be able to serve the booming development of China and Asia, Laurent added.

Dassault Systemes hopes to increase its headcount to more than 2,000 employees in China from the current 600-plus in the next five to 10 years, said Zhang Ying, managing director of Dassault Systemes China.

One factor that should help in reaching that goal is that the city's colleges and universities cultivate many young talents, Zhang added.

Editor: Emmi Laine