KBR announced a strategic investment in Applied Computing, a developer of AI foundation models for the energy and industrial sectors, as part of its broader AI-driven growth strategy.
The deal includes KBR securing a board position in Applied Computing and entering into a multi-year joint development agreement to co-create exclusive AI products for the energy sector. The partnership will integrate Applied Computing’s proprietary Orbital foundation model with KBR’s licensed process technologies, domain expertise in capital projects, and supply chain capabilities.
Together, the companies aim to accelerate the development and deployment of AI-powered digital products across the full energy lifecycle, spanning asset operations, capital projects, and next-generation technologies. The collaboration is expected to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability across energy, chemical, and industrial markets.
This marks KBR’s first strategic investment in an AI company and reflects its focus on expanding advanced, explainable AI capabilities across its global technology portfolio. The company will also support Applied Computing through its board role, co-located teams, and global network to accelerate commercial growth.
Applied Computing, headquartered in London and led by CEO Callum Adamson and Chief AI Officer Dr. Samyakh Tukra, has developed Orbital, a physics-based AI foundation model designed specifically for energy operations. The platform combines chemical engineering models, time-series forecasting, and language capabilities to deliver real-time optimization across complex industrial environments, including refineries, petrochemical facilities, LNG sites, and renewable energy operations.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re very excited about what this technology could unlock across the full lifecycle for multiple industries, and we’re thrilled to make this investment in Applied Computing to spur future technologies. This investment strengthens KBR’s position at the forefront of applied AI and enables us to scale innovations across our full range of licensed technologies and has the potential to create a new paradigm for OpEx analytics and NextGen CapEx delivery. Together, we’re redefining how AI powers the critical systems that drive global economic growth.”
Greg Conlon, Chief Digital and Development Officer, KBR
“It’s our mission to provide operators with a foundation model that unlocks advantage at scale while delivering pathways to production that are safer, more efficient and far less carbon intensive. KBR is a natural fit for that mission. Their decades of data, industry domain knowledge and global reach mean we can now accelerate deployment of Orbital across the sector.”
Callum Adamson, CEO, Applied Computing
