Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Alex Hilger, Founder & CEO of Space Grid AI, to discuss optimizing shipyard operations with digital twins. Space Grid AI develops software that models space, equipment, and scheduling in heavy industry to improve resource allocation. The platform addresses inefficiencies in shipbuilding and maintenance by digitizing workflows that are currently managed with manual tools.
Timestamped Overview00:00 – Introduction and overview of Space Grid AI01:00 – Founder background and experience at Blue Origin02:00 – The core problem: allocating space, equipment, and labor over time03:30 – Limitations of current scheduling tools and manual processes04:00 – Digital twin with time dimension as the core innovation05:00 – Current product capabilities vs. future vision with automated sensing06:00 – Why maritime was chosen as the initial market07:00 – Global shipbuilding imbalance and U.S. capacity decline09:00 – Shipbuilding process from raw materials to final assembly11:00 – Focus on maintenance and repair vs. new builds12:30 – Global competition: Korea, China, and industrial policy differences16:00 – U.S. shipbuilding inefficiencies and cultural challenges20:00 – Technical architecture: GIS, spatial computing, and digital twins22:00 – Time-based simulation and integration with scheduling tools24:30 – Early customer results and efficiency gains26:00 – Real-world breakdowns in scheduling and resource conflicts28:00 – Vision for AI-driven optimization and decision support31:00 – Predictive conflict detection and safety applications34:00 – Go-to-market strategy and adoption challenges36:30 – Industry modernization and infrastructure gaps41:00 – Competitive landscape including Palantir and incumbents46:00 – Limits of scope: not replacing work packages but complementing them48:00 – Root causes of U.S. shipbuilding decline50:00 – Geopolitical considerations and commercial vs. military fleets52:00 – Workforce shortages and importance of maritime education54:00 – Key takeaway: large untapped efficiency in heavy industry
