The UK Digital Twin Centre has opened in Belfast, Northern Ireland with the launch of a program that aims to accelerate the adoption of digital twin technology across industrial sectors, including aerospace and defense.
Delivered by UK Government’s Digital Catapult and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal and R&D agency Innovate UK, the center aims to help businesses create virtual representations of physical assets and systems that can optimize performance, reduce costs and predict outcomes in real time.
R&D Programs delivered by the Digital Twin Centre (DTC) will help businesses demystify, demonstrate and deploy digital twins with expert support, test environments and tools for experimentation. The facility combines capabilities across six enabling technology areas: intelligence, data services, immersive and user experience, cyber-physical systems, integration, and security.
The facility features a 360-degree immersive space and laboratory. During the centre’s opening last week, industry partners Artemis Technologies, Spirit AeroSystems and Thales UK demonstrated how digital twins are solving complex operational challenges. The early use cases showcase cross-sector collaboration to improve product design, build supply chain resilience and decarbonize operations.
“The UK Digital Twin Centre brings together our technical expertise, facilities, and networks to unlock the power of deep technologies,” said Susan Bowen, CEO of Digital Catapult. “By connecting industries with cutting-edge technology through our programs, we are enabling businesses to harness the full potential of digital twins.”
The center’s first six-month Accelerator Program is now open for expressions of interest to SMEs and larger companies ready to collaborate on real-world challenges at: digicat.org.uk/UK-Digital-Twin-Centre
The program will support partnerships between tech SMEs and industry to fast-track digital twin adoption in maritime, aerospace and defense sectors.
Participants in the accelerator will receive Innovate UK funding, mentorship, workshops and specialist support to develop proofs of concept for enabling technologies such as IoT, data integration and simulation tools.
“Seeing real-world use cases coming to life at the UK Digital Twin Centre is a powerful demonstration of how digital twins can deliver tangible advances for UK industry,” said Dean Cook, executive director for place and global at Innovate UK. “These cutting edge tools will solve complex business challenges in aerospace, maritime, and defense.”
