KBR Invests in Applied Computing’s Orbital AI, Secures Board Seat
KBR acquired a strategic investment stake in UK-based Applied Computing, earning a board seat and launching a multi-year joint development agreement to integrate Applied’s Orbital AI model with KBR’s process technologies. The partnership targets new AI-driven products across energy, chemical and industrial sectors to improve operational efficiency, safety and sustainability.
1. Strategic Investment in Applied Computing
KBR acquired a minority stake in UK-based Applied Computing and secured a board seat, marking its first strategic investment in an AI company. This governance role enables KBR to influence development of the Orbital foundation model for energy and industrial applications.
2. Multi-Year Joint Development Agreement
The companies signed a multi-year joint development agreement to co-create exclusive AI products for the energy sector. They will integrate Applied Computing’s Orbital physics-based model with KBR’s licensed process technologies and domain expertise in capital projects and supply chains.
3. Focus on Operational Efficiency and Sustainability
The collaboration is designed to deploy AI-driven solutions that enhance operational efficiency, safety and sustainability across asset operations, capital projects and technology derisking. KBR aims to scale these innovations globally to support its AI-driven growth strategy.