Digital Twinning NetworkPlus: DTNet+

Lead Research Organisation: The Alan Turing Institute
Department Name: Research

Abstract

Digital twins are a fusion of digital technologies considered by many leading advocates to be revolutionary in nature. Digital twins offer exciting new possibilities across a wide range of sectors from health, environment, transport, manufacturing, defence, and infrastructure. By connecting the virtual and physical worlds (e.g. cyber-physcial), digital twins are able to better support decisions, extend operational lives, and introduce multiple other efficiencies and benefits. As a result, digital twins have been identified by government, professional bodies and industry, as a key technology to help address many of the societal challenges we face.

To date, digital twin (DT) innovation has been strongly driven by industry practitioners and commercial innovators. As would be expected with any early-adoption approach, projects have been bespoke & often isolated, and so there is a need for research to increase access, lower entry costs and develop interconnectivity. Furthermore, there are several major gaps in underpinning academic research relating to DT. The academic push has been significantly lagging behind the industry pull. As a result, there is an urgent need for a network that will fill gaps in the underpinning research for topics such as; uncertainty, interoperability, scaling, governance & societal effects.

In terms of existing networking activities, there are several industry-led user groups and domain-specific consortia. However, there has never been a dedicated academic-led DT network that brings together academic research teams across the entire remit of UKRI with user-led groups. DTNet+ will address this gap with a consortium which has both sufficient breadth and depth to deliver transformative change.

Organisations

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Conference planning meeting 30th November (Sheffield University) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The meeting included members of the Executive board and Special Interest Group leads. The purpose of the meeting was to plan for the launch event of the DTNet+ project, the first General Assembly. The group discussed the intended impact and outcomes of the General Assembly, the agenda for the day was reviewed, the topics and themes for the discussions and presentations planned out, and roles allocated.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description General Assembly 17th January (London) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The first DTNet+ General Assembly was an in person event featuring engaging talks, interactive workshops, and insightful panel discussions led by academic/industry experts. During this meeting we intended to achieve two main things:

Firstly, to bring together people with shared interests in digital twinning, and to start networking & community building.

Second, to gather views on the most important research topics, roadblocks and potential opportunities

These two activities will be important in shaping the network in advance of the first round of pilot project activities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Inaugural Executive Board Meeting 24th August 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The inaugural meeting of the Executive Board for the project explored project governance, ways of working, potential opportunities for collaboration and future meetings and how the best to organise the project over the next five years.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Increasing the membership network for the DTNet+ 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Encouraging and directing people to sign up to join the community as a member of the network, building our client relationship list. This helps grow the network, reaching people nationally with news about the Digital Twinning NetworkPlus project.

This community has increased substantially since our General Assembly in January and the launch of the DTNet+ website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://www.dtnetplus.ac.uk/
 
Description Project planning meeting 3rd October 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The meeting explored the special interest groups that are likely to form the backbone of the project. Presentations were given, snergies, overlaps and ways of working were discussed. The partners and collaborators also reviewed the balance between the sciences and social sciences, the geographical reach of the project and the need to ensure EDI and Widening Participation are central to the work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Website landing page launched - 20th December 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The official DTnet+ website landing page was launched on the 20th of December with the option for interested parties to join our community. We expect subsequent pages to be added and for the website to be complete by the end of February. The website was promoted during our first General Assembly on Wednesday 17th January
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.dtnetplus.ac.uk/