As laid out in our previous editorial, digital twins are shaping industry dynamics due to their innovative and bountiful use cases. Digital Twins are also beginning to change policy dynamics and governmental strategy. Leaders globally are adopting digital twins as a technological tool in economic development by deploying smarter, more effective, and sustainable methods of practice. Since the start of 2024, this has been at an accelerated pace.
One example is the UK national government, which oversaw a government-led program focused on developing digital twin initiatives named the National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP). NDTP looks to leverage the UK’s technological talent to make the country a digital twin leader. Since 2023, numerous case studies have been undertaken by NDPT through its demonstrator programs, such as digital twins in retrofitting housing and a twin of the Isle of White energy system. In April, the University of Loughborough announced an ethics strategy for the NDPT program supporting the UK government in digital twin development.
Recently, the UK government announced a collaboration with the UK energy grid, known as ESO, to develop digital twin solutions for energy across the UK. On My 1st, the UK government committed further to integrating digital twins, backing a £37.5 million digital twin center in Belfast to accelerate digital twin adoption led by Digital Catapult.
Thus, digital twins are becoming more widespread across the United Kingdom through government intervention.
But the UK is no anomaly in terms of digital twin adoption. On May 7th, 2024, the Biden Administration in the United States announced $285 Million in funding for digital twin chip manufacturers, coined the CHIPS for America Program. Highlighting the transformative potential of digital twins for industry, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Laurie E. Locascio said in a press release, “Digital twin technology will help transform the semiconductor industry,” underscoring the US government’s interest in the technology.
Similarly, one month later, across the pond, the European Union doubled down on its stance towards digital twins, kickstarting its Destination Earth initiative, looking to create a digital twin of the earth to aid in the fight against climate change with designated funding of over $300 million.
India is another world leader that has deployed digital twin technology since the start of the year. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the IT services company Genesys International Corporation to develop a digital twin of Varanasi in the hope of modernizing it through sustainability practices. The Indian government also introduced its Sangam Digital Twin program this year to shape infrastructure planning using digital twins.
As a result, since the start of 2024, governments worldwide have begun to adopt digital twin technology at scale through new programs and initiatives that are set to transform the industry and the world we live in.
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