Digital Twinning NetworkPlus: DTNet+
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Sch of Mechanical, Aerospace Civil Engin
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.
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
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- ANSYS (International) (Project Partner)
- Medtronic (Project Partner)
- GSK (Global) (Project Partner)
- QinetiQ (Malvern) (Project Partner)
- AddQual (Project Partner)
- The National Robotarium (Project Partner)
- Virtual Physiological Human Institute (Project Partner)
- UK Research Centre in NDE (Project Partner)
- Arup (Project Partner)
- ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (Project Partner)
- Dover Harbour Board (DHB) (Project Partner)
- UK Coll for Res in Infra & Cities UKCRIC (Project Partner)
- HCL Technologies Ltd (Project Partner)
- Digital Catapult (Project Partner)
- Iknaia Limited (Project Partner)
- Discovery Park Limited (Project Partner)
- Be-St (Project Partner)
- BMT Limited (Project Partner)
- National Police Chief's Council (Project Partner)
- Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd (Project Partner)
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (Project Partner)
- Laing O'Rourke plc (Project Partner)
- Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (Project Partner)
- Anglian Water (Project Partner)
- Network Rail Limited (Project Partner)
- EDF Energy R&D UK Centre Limited (Project Partner)
- Connected Places Catapult (Project Partner)
- Port of Tyne (Project Partner)
- KEEN AI Ltd (Project Partner)
- DAFNI Data & Analytics Fac f Natl Infra (Project Partner)
- AstraZeneca (Project Partner)
- Fujitsu (Project Partner)
- Scottish Research Partnership in Eng (Project Partner)
- Iotics (UK) (Project Partner)
- Information Junction Ltd (Project Partner)
- BTL Group LTD (Project Partner)
- Ericsson Silicon Valley (Project Partner)
- The MathWorks Inc (Project Partner)
- Scotland's Rural College (Project Partner)
- Viettel Group (Project Partner)
- Jacobs (Project Partner)
- Health and Safety Executive (Project Partner)
- Sea and Land Project Engineering Limited (Project Partner)
- COWI UK Limited (Project Partner)
- Hadean Supercomputing Ltd (Project Partner)
- Pinsent Masons LLP (Project Partner)
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/Y016289/1 | 31/07/2023 | 30/08/2025 | £3,967,657 | ||
| EP/Y016289/2 | Transfer | EP/Y016289/1 | 30/08/2025 | 29/08/2030 | £0 |