Sweden’s digital twin city project moves forward

The Digital Twin Cities Centre (DTCC), an initiative positioning Sweden as a European leader in the adoption and application of digital twin cities, is set to enter its next phase following a five-year extension approved by Vinnova, Sweden's innovation agency.

Starting this year, the second phase of the Digital Twin Cities Centre (DTCC 2) will focus on advancing sustainable urban development, connecting research with industry and providing practical tools to transform city planning and construction across Sweden. A key element of DTCC 2 is expanding its focus on PhD and industrial PhD programmes to drive interdisciplinary research and bridge academia and industry.

“We’re very excited to be able to continue with five more years of work in the digital twin city area together with our partners. To help strengthen us further, we plan to recruit six new PhD students and three industrial PhDs. These researchers will focus on practical challenges in digital twin applications, ensuring their work contributes to both scientific advancement and real-world impact,” said Anders Logg, director of the Digital Twin Cities Centre.

Practical tools for urban development

Important topics for DTCC 2 include advancing data-driven urban planning, promoting lifecycle sustainability in design, transforming construction processes through digital technologies, and enhancing urban modelling with AI and simulation. A stronger emphasis will also be placed on visualization tools to make complex data accessible and actionable for stakeholders. “Our focus is on delivering solutions that not only push the boundaries of digital twin research, but also provide practical tools for sustainable and inclusive urban development,” Anders Logg added.

Launched in 2020, the DTCC leverages the digital twin city concept to enhance the planning, construction and management of cities in Sweden, aiming to make them smarter, more sustainable and more livable by 2030. In recent years, it has achieved significant milestones, successfully completing key research projects in collaboration with diverse partners.