OPAL-RT Technologies

What OPAL-RT Technologies does

OPAL-RT Technologies Inc. is a privately held Canadian company founded in 1997 in Montreal, Quebec by co-founders Jean Bélanger (President) and Lise Laforce (Executive Vice-President). The company designs, develops, and sells real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation platforms and complementary hardware, software, and services used by engineers to test, validate, and refine complex control systems across industries including energy and power systems, automotive, aerospace, power electronics, autonomous systems, and academic research. The technology stack combines high-performance computing with FPGA-based solvers, supporting Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL), Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and accelerated simulation workflows.

The product portfolio is platform-plus-modules in architecture. The two flagship software platforms are HYPERSIM, an advanced HIL/SIL simulator capable of real-time execution of 30,000+ electrical node models for national-scale grid modeling, and RT-LAB, which converts MATLAB/Simulink models into real-time high-performance simulations. These are complemented by specialized toolboxes (eHS FPGA solver, ARTEMiS CPU solver, ePHASORSIM RMS solver, SPS Software for SimPowerSystems users, and EXata CPS communication network emulation co-developed with Keysight) and hardware including simulators, test benches, and I/O interfaces with FPGA time steps as low as 40 nanoseconds. A new OPAL-RT 4DRIVE division launched in May 2026 extends the platform into autonomous vehicle and robotics simulation.

The company monetizes through a mix of one-time software licenses and FPGA-based hardware sales (quotes valid for 30 days, payment due in 30 days for software, full prepayment for hardware), professional services (training, commissioning, expert support), and recurring maintenance/support agreements gated by active Support Agreements. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales across North America, Europe, and Asia, with ten wholly-owned regional subsidiaries and an exclusive/regional distributor network spanning 40+ countries. Revenue and ARR are not publicly disclosed. The company employs more than 400 people globally, serves 1,000+ customers (including GE Vernova, Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Ford, Caterpillar, NASA, Pratt & Whitney, Sungrow, and Dominion Energy), and reports 6,000+ technical paper citations referencing its products. No outside private equity or venture capital is identified in the source material.

Name

OPAL-RT Technologies

Legal name

OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Website

https://opal-rt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

OPAL-RT Technologies is a Montreal-based provider of real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation platforms for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL/PHIL/RCP/SIL) testing of power systems, automotive, aerospace, power electronics, and autonomous systems. Founded in 1997, it serves 1,000+ customers across 40+ countries with 400+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real-Time Digital Simulation Platforms

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA) (HDAHAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff) (HDAHAFAA), Performance Engineering & Scalability Testing (BPAEAKAK)

Keywords

• Real-time simulation
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Power systems simulation
• Digital real-time simulators
• Rapid control prototyping

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Platforms: Sale of software platforms including RT-LAB, HYPERSIM, and specialized toolboxes like eHS, ARTEMiS, ePHASORSIM. Quotation-based pricing with quotes valid for 30 days.
2. Hardware Systems and Simulators: Sale of hardware platforms including simulators, test benches, and hardware interfaces. Hardware orders require full payment before delivery.
3. Professional Services: Training, commissioning, and expert services. Estimated time used when preparing quotes; overtime charged at 1.25x regular rate if more time is needed. Buyer has one year from delivery date to request services.
4. Maintenance and Support: Ongoing support services for software and hardware. Restricted areas of website require active Support Agreement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

OPAL-RT Technologies develops and sells real-time and faster-than-real-time digital simulation platforms that enable hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL), rapid control prototyping (RCP), and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing. Its portfolio combines proprietary software platforms (HYPERSIM, RT-LAB, 4DV-SIM) and specialized FPGA/CPU solver toolboxes (eHS, ARTEMiS, ePHASORSIM, SPS Software, EXata CPS, NI VeriStand Add-On) with complementary real-time simulator hardware, test benches, and hardware interfaces. The offering is targeted at engineers in energy, automotive, aerospace, power electronics, autonomous systems, and academic research who need to test and validate complex control systems without relying on full-scale prototypes.

Product overview

OPAL-RT Technologies delivers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL), rapid control prototyping (RCP), and software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing. The core software platforms are HYPERSIM (advanced HIL/SIL for power systems capable of 30,000+ node simulations) and RT-LAB (converts MATLAB/Simulink models to real-time simulations), complemented by the 4DV-SIM autonomous systems platform. Specialized toolboxes include eHS (FPGA-based power electronics solver with 40ns time steps), ARTEMiS (CPU-based power simulation), ePHASORSIM (RMS phasor simulation), SPS Software (SimPowerSystems compatibility), EXata CPS (Keysight network emulation), and NI VeriStand Add-On. The portfolio spans hardware simulators, test benches, hardware interfaces, professional services, and courseware for academia. Testing approaches include HIL, PHIL, RCP, SIL, simulation acceleration, and digital twins, serving energy, automotive, aerospace, power electronics, autonomy, and research sectors across 40+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RT-LAB: Turn Simulink models into real-time, high-performance simulations.
• HYPERSIM
• eHS
• ARTEMiS
• ePHASORSIM
• 4DV-SIM
• SPS Software
• EXata CPS
• OPAL-RT 4DRIVE

Products and services

• HYPERSIM The most advanced HIL and SIL real-time simulation platform for power systems, capable of executing real-time simulations of over 30,000 electrical nodes for national-scale grid modeling. Sold to power utilities, grid operators, and researchers modeling large transmission and distribution networks.
• RT-LAB Real-time simulation software platform that converts MATLAB/Simulink models into real-time, high-performance simulations for control system testing and validation. Used by engineers across energy, automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.
• 4DV-SIM A flexible 3D real-time simulation platform for autonomous systems, including self-driving vehicles, intelligent robotics, and UAVs. Provides virtual proving grounds for perception algorithms and sensor fusion. Targeted at autonomous vehicle and robotics developers.
• eHS (Electric Hardware Solver) High-performance FPGA-based solver for real-time power systems and power electronics simulation, supporting time steps as low as 40 nanoseconds for power electronics and motor drive validation. Used with HYPERSIM and RT-LAB platforms.
• ARTEMiS CPU-based toolbox for real-time power systems and power electronics simulation, enabling power hardware-in-the-loop testing on standard compute hardware. Sold to power systems and power electronics engineers.
• ePHASORSIM High-performance RMS solver that enables real-time simulation of large-scale power networks in the phasor domain. Used by utilities and researchers for large-scale transmission and distribution system studies.
• SPS Software Dedicated platform providing full compatibility with SimPowerSystems in MATLAB/Simulink, keeping the modeling workflow in Simulink from first blocks through to hardware-in-the-loop testing on OPAL-RT simulators. Sold to power systems engineers migrating from MathWorks SimPowerSystems.
• EXata CPS Communication network emulation tool developed in partnership with Keysight, integrated with OPAL-RT's HYPERSIM or RT-LAB software platforms to enable cyber-physical power system testing.
• NI VeriStand Add-On OPAL-RT's FPGA-based power electronics add-on (eHS) packaged as an integration into National Instruments VeriStand, providing HIL testing capabilities for power electronics inside the NI VeriStand environment. Targeted at NI VeriStand users in automotive and power electronics testing.
• OPAL-RT Simulators Real-time and faster-than-real-time simulator hardware platforms that run OPAL-RT software to enable engineers to test, validate, and refine complex control systems from lab to production. Sold to enterprise engineering teams across energy, automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers.
• OPAL-RT Test Benches Turnkey testing systems combining hardware and software for comprehensive hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL), and rapid control prototyping (RCP) testing.
• OPAL-RT Hardware Interfaces Hardware interface modules and I/O solutions for connecting real hardware devices to OPAL-RT simulation platforms, enabling HIL and PHIL test setups.
• Professional Services Training, commissioning, and expert services for OPAL-RT software and hardware platforms. Includes technical support and ongoing maintenance under active Support Agreements.
• Courseware Academic course materials and educational packages for universities to teach power systems simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Sold to academic institutions and research centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% time savings in commissioning through early control system and integration validation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SYNDEMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Strategic partnership for joint marketing, integration, and sales to advance grid stability and reliability in modern power systems. Combines OPAL-RT's real-time simulation and HIL testing platforms with SYNDEM's Virtual Synchronous Machine technology and Smart Grid Research and Educational Kits. Enables engineers and researchers to develop and test control strategies in both computational and physical environments.
• National Instruments (NI)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with National Instruments, a global leader in test, measurement, and control solutions, to expand real-time simulation offerings. Collaboration enables customers to access more accessible and advanced simulation technology through NI VeriStand integration with OPAL-RT's FPGA-based power electronics add-on (eHS).
• Motorcar Parts of America's D&V ElectronicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to unite complementary technologies and advance R&D, testing, and manufacturing of electric motors.
• KeysightcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for development of EXata CPS - a cutting-edge communication network emulation tool integrated with OPAL-RT's HYPERSIM or RT-LAB software platforms. Enables communication network emulation for power system simulations.
• PolyU (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Laboratory Memorandum of Understanding signed April 17, 2026 to integrate industry experience and academic research to empower the grid. Combines OPAL-RT's simulation technology with PolyU's academic expertise in power systems research.
• DiraqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in Critical Technologies Challenge Program (CTCP) led by Diraq with funding from Australian Government. Includes UNSW Sydney, Macquarie University, OPAL-RT Technologies Australia, and Australian Energy Market Operator. Developing software integrating quantum computers with real-time simulation tools for energy network optimization.
• TarazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to streamline power electronics R&D through integration of technologies.
• Edinburgh UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for RT26 Workshop in Edinburgh. Co-organizing technical workshop on PHIL testing, power electronics, and power system simulation with speakers from across the UK.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Plexim (PLECS): Specialist in power-electronics circuit simulation with growing real-time/HIL capabilities. Comparable to OPAL-RT's eHS and ARTEMiS in motor-drive and converter design workflows.

Broad incumbents

• ANSYS: Provider of multiphysics simulation software widely used in automotive, aerospace, and power-electronics design. Adjacent incumbent whose high-fidelity solvers increasingly intersect with real-time/HIL use cases OPAL-RT addresses.
• Siemens (Digital Industries / Simcenter): Major automation/PLM incumbent offering Simcenter simulation, digital twins, and test solutions. Overlaps with OPAL-RT in automotive, energy, and aerospace customer accounts and competes in some HIL-adjacent toolchains.
• MathWorks: Maker of MATLAB/Simulink — the underlying modeling environment OPAL-RT's RT-LAB, HYPERSIM and SPS Software integrate with. Adjacent incumbent and key ecosystem dependency/partner.
• National Instruments (NI) / Emerson: Now part of Emerson, NI is a broad incumbent in test, measurement, and HIL via VeriStand — and is simultaneously a partner (VeriStand Add-On) and competitor across modular HIL platforms.

Direct peers

• dSPACE GmbH: German-based leading provider of HIL simulation systems and prototyping tools for automotive, aerospace, and industrial control. Most direct competitor to OPAL-RT's RT-LAB/eHS offerings, particularly in RCP and ECU HIL.
• RTDS Technologies: Supplies real-time digital simulators for power-system protection, HVDC, and integration studies used by utilities and researchers. Overlaps with OPAL-RT's HYPERSIM and ePHASORSIM offerings in transmission/distribution simulation.
• Speedgoat GmbH: Provides real-time target machines and Simulink-integrated HIL solutions for control design and power electronics. Closely comparable to OPAL-RT on RCP and Simulink-based HIL workflows.
• Typhoon HIL: Specialist in ultra-high-fidelity real-time HIL simulation for power electronics, microgrids, and renewable energy. Directly competes with HYPERSIM and eHS in the power-systems HIL market.

Others

• Keysight Technologies: Test-and-measurement incumbent and EXata CPS co-development partner. Provides complementary communication network emulation for power-system cyber-physical validation, integrating with OPAL-RT platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/opalrttechnologies
• Facebookfacebook.com/OPALRT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opal-rt-technologies
• Instagraminstagram.com/opalrttechnologies
• TikToktiktok.com/@opalrttechnologies
• Xx.com/OpalRT

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OPAL-RT Technologies