Digital twins: past, present and future
Abstract
Abstract Over the past few decades, digital twin technology has evolved into a highly versatile tool. Initially used in the aerospace industry, digital twins can now form the dynamic backbone of systems in manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities, and planetary-scale climate models. They facilitate predictive ‘what if’ simulations, ranging from virtual hearts to interactive Earth twins. Progress in the future will rely on the integration of heterogeneous data, the validation of models and the embedding of human-centric governance in order to build robust and trustworthy digital twins across disciplines for the benefit of society.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Digital Transformation in Industry
Educational Leadership and Innovation
Digital Innovation in Industries
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Scientific Reports
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 27 March 2026
- Language
- EN