Twenty Years of Excellence in System Simulation
As Modelon reaches its twentieth anniversary, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Johan Andreasson shares highlights from our remarkable journey and growth as a company.
Founding Principles and Opportunity
Modelon was founded in 2005 with a clear vision: to revolutionize the world of system simulation by embracing an open standard for modeling and simulation—Modelica.
This approach offered intrinsic interoperability and efficiency, which made building more accurate and comprehensive models possible. We were one of the first companies to create industry-grade system models that were validated, tested, maintained, and upgraded over time. At the time, the automotive and HVAC&R industries needed fully commercialized modeling and simulation technology, and Modelon set out to provide reliable, cutting-edge solutions based on the latest research.
Introduction and Growth of the Library Portfolio
Modelon’s first product, the Air Conditioning Library, enabled the automotive industry to reduce its dependence on physical prototypes while achieving the critical goals of lowering fuel consumption and transitioning to environmentally safe refrigerants.
The Air Conditioning Library was eagerly adopted by leading German automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Modelon built on this initial success by expanding its library portfolio. Focusing on shortening the development lead times by providing detailed, customizable models running in real-time applications such as driving simulators, the Vehicle Dynamics library established a new standard in motorsports.
The FMI Standard and Compiler Development
With open standards as a founding principle, Modelon adopted the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard early in its development. We built all our code on this standard, starting with our own Modelica compiler – OPTIMICA, later known as OPTIMICA Compiler Toolkit. Continuing to build on the FMI standard, we added interfaces to Excel, Matlab, and Python.
Progressively refining the OPTIMICA compiler through close collaboration with customers, we enhanced its robustness and performance. The compiler’s capabilities led to ANSYS and Siemens integrating OPTIMICA into their products offering Modelica support and compliance.
Expanding Global Market Presence
Recognizing the growing demand for our system modeling and simulation offering, Modelon expanded its presence outside of Sweden, opening offices and incorporating business units in Germany, the United States, Japan, and India. This established Modelon as a worldwide leader in simulation technology and laid a foundation for closer collaboration with our customers.
Pioneering Cloud-Based System Simulation
With useful libraries and a robust compiler, Modelon began developing a first-of-its-kind platform. We aimed to build a browser-based graphical user interface to connect end-users, the library suite, and the compiler seamlessly. The tool was designed in collaboration with long-standing customers, ensuring the platform was intuitive for non-expert users yet immensely powerful.
In 2020, we introduced Modelon Impact. Launching a cloud-based platform was a game-changing leap for system simulation, marking a critical shift in how organizations approached model-based design and engineering. Modelon Impact provided an accessible interface and true collaboration capabilities, allowing engineering teams to perform simulations with flexibility and scalability.
In 2021, with Modelon Impact showing significant traction, Modelon was listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, representing a critical milestone in our journey and providing increased visibility for further expansion and innovation.
Starting in Stockholm in 2022, we hosted the first-ever Modelon Innovate conference, a global gathering of system modeling and simulation experts. The conference offers a platform to share and learn about the latest advances in model-based engineering. The second Modelon Innovate took place in Copenhagen in 2024.
The Future of Modelon
In 2025, Modelon stands strong with a comprehensive SaaS product for system simulation, offering unparalleled accessibility and performance to meet modern engineering demands. The company serves an impressive roster of customers across diverse sectors, which is a testament to the trust and value placed in our innovative solutions.
Since 2005, Modelon has pushed the boundaries of system simulation and model-based engineering. Led by an agile team, we continue to anticipate and surpass the needs of our customers and the computer-aided engineering market.
To our customers, collaborators, investors, and the Modelonians who shaped the journey thus far – I send you my deepest thanks. I’m truly grateful to continue this work alongside some of the brightest minds in engineering.