The UK Digital Twin Centre, a project created by Digital Catapult and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, has opened in Belfast.
It is predicted to reach £62 million in GVA for the economy over the next decade, accelerating the adoption of digital twin technology across the UK.
At the Centre’s opening, the project’s co-investing partners demonstrated early-stage use cases by using the facilities to demonstrate how digital twins can be used to help solve design challenges.
Partners at the opening included Artemis Technologies, Spirit AeroSystems, and Thales UK. The use cases showed how digital twins can help improve product design, build supply chain resilience, and contribute to decarbonisation.
The UK Digital Twin Centre will deliver programmes to businesses across the UK to teach them about the benefits of using digital twins. Test environments and tools for experimentation and validation, combined with industry use cases, will offer a route to implementing them.
It has convened digital twin capabilities across six enabling technology areas: intelligence, data services, immersive and UX, cyber-physical systems, integration, and security.
Its first six month Accelerator Programme is now open for pre-application expression of interest and will support partnerships between tech SMEs and industry to fast-track adoption in maritime, aerospace, and defence.
Participants will receive Innovate UK funding and access to mentorship, workshops, and specialist support.
“The UK Digital Twin Centre marks a major step for Belfast, driving innovation in high-growth sectors like advanced manufacturing,” said Councillor Micky Murray, Lord Mayor of Belfast.
“Through the Belfast Region City Deal and with Digital Catapult’s UK-wide reach, we’re connecting our SMEs to a powerful network, unlocking access to new markets, collaboration opportunities, and cutting-edge technologies.”
