KE-WORKS BV

Their core work

KE-WORKS is a Dutch technology SME based in Delft that develops software and methods for knowledge-based engineering and multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO). They specialize in enabling complex product design workflows where multiple engineering disciplines must collaborate simultaneously — particularly in aerospace. Their tools help distributed teams of engineers work concurrently on systems architecture and virtual product development, reducing design cycle times and improving integration across disciplines.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

KE-WORKS began with aircraft design optimization and industrial simulation (AGILE and Fortissimo 2, both starting in 2015), focusing on enabling collaborative engineering across distributed teams. By 2019, with AGILE 4.0, their focus sharpened toward Industry 4.0 concepts — model-based systems engineering, cyber-physical systems, and virtual certification of aircraft. The trajectory shows a clear move from general collaborative design tools toward digitalized, model-driven product development pipelines.

KE-WORKS is moving toward full digital-thread product development, combining MBSE with Industry 4.0 principles — making them increasingly relevant for any project that needs to connect virtual design with physical manufacturing.

How they like to work

KE-WORKS consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, which is typical for a specialized software SME that brings specific tooling expertise to large collaborative projects. Their 60 unique partners across 14 countries indicate they operate in large, multi-partner consortia (both AGILE projects involved 19+ partners). This suggests they are comfortable integrating their tools into complex multi-organizational workflows and are well-practiced at interoperability.

KE-WORKS has built a broad European network of 60 unique partners across 14 countries, largely through two major aerospace consortia. Their network is heavily weighted toward aerospace research organizations, universities, and aircraft manufacturers across Western Europe.

What sets them apart

KE-WORKS occupies a niche at the intersection of knowledge-based engineering software and aerospace MDO — a space where few SMEs operate. Based in Delft, they benefit from proximity to TU Delft's aerospace faculty, one of Europe's leading aeronautical engineering departments. For consortium builders, they offer something hard to find: a small, agile software company with deep domain expertise in making heterogeneous engineering teams work together on complex products.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AGILE 4.0
  Flagship EU project on cyber-physical collaborative aircraft development with Industry 4.0 methods — their largest funding (EUR 234,812) and most recent work.
• AGILE
  Pioneering 3rd-generation MDO project for aircraft design involving large heterogeneous expert teams — established KE-WORKS in the European aerospace R&D landscape.