Two exciting opportunities for digital twin practitioners to advance their capabilities and secure innovation funding
Building your digital twin capability: two key opportunities for practitioners
The digital twin landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead means having both the right skills and the right resources. Today, we’re sharing two important community announcements that could transform how you approach digital twin implementation in your organisation.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical expertise or secure funding for innovative partnerships, these opportunities are designed specifically for practitioners ready to take the next step in their digital twin journey.
Announcement 1: Master advanced digital twin implementation – February 2026 course now open
From strategy to action: build real-world digital twin solutions
If you’ve been grappling with how to actually build and deploy digital twins that deliver continuous value, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we’ve partnered with Cranfield University to launch our Digital Twin Implementation course, with the next cohort starting 5 February 2026.
This isn’t your typical theory-heavy training. Over four weeks of online sessions (just 6 hours of active learning), you’ll work alongside practitioners from diverse industries who are facing the same implementation challenges you are.
What makes this course different?
Week 1: You’ll develop a common framework for designing digital twins – no more reinventing the wheel or wondering if you’re on the right track.
Week 2: Tackle the interoperability challenge head-on. Learn practical approaches to data management that actually work in complex, real-world environments.
Week 3: Discover how AI and analytics transform digital twins from passive models into intelligent, predictive systems that drive decision-making.
Week 4: Create your own digital twin development plan complete with automated feedback loops – ensuring your solution grows in value over time, not just at launch.
What previous participants say
“The best element of the course is meeting people from diverse organisations and industries, with equally diverse views on digital twins and at varied levels of implementation.” – Lionel Schotter, Digital Advisor, Fujitsu Services
“I have incorporated some of the tool set concepts into my existing engagements. The course has played a role in reaffirming my focus area in the business.” – Mark Gould, Head of IT, Bibby Marine Ltd
Course details at a glance
- Dates: 5 February – 4 March 2026 (or 11 June – 2 July 2026 for the summer cohort)
- Format: Online, with weekly live sessions (recorded for catch-up)
- Investment: £950
- Outcome: Cranfield University Certificate of Attendance and digital badge
This course follows on perfectly from our Digital Twin Strategy and Transformation course (they run in succession, so you can register for both if that suits your learning journey).
Ready to move from digital twin theory to implementation?
Announcement 2: Unlock innovation funding through knowledge transfer partnerships
Transform your digital twin ideas into funded projects
Here’s something many practitioners don’t realise: there’s significant funding available right now for digital twin innovation through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). If you’ve got ambitious ideas but need resources to make them reality, this could be your pathway.
What are KTPs and why should you care?
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are essentially funded collaborations between businesses and academic institutions. For digital twin practitioners, this means:
- Funding to hire talented graduates or postgraduates to work on your innovation project
- Academic expertise from leading universities to solve complex technical challenges
- Reduced financial risk with government covering a significant portion of costs
Current funding opportunities relevant to digital twin projects
Several Innovate UK competitions are open right now that align perfectly with digital twin initiatives:
For manufacturing and industry 4.0 applications:
- DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund – Up to £150 million for zero-emission vehicle technologies (perfect for automotive digital twins)
- Resource Efficiency for Resilience and Sustainability – £1.1 million for sustainable manufacturing innovations
For connected systems and smart infrastructure:
- CAM Pathfinder: Feasibility Studies – £1.5 million for Connected and Automated Mobility services (ideal for transport digital twins)
- UK-Netherlands Quantum Tech Collaboration – For cutting-edge quantum-enhanced digital twin applications
For cross-sector innovation:
- Eureka GlobalStars Japan 2026 – International collaboration opportunities closing 21 January 2026
- Future Leaders Fellowships – Up to £110 million for ambitious research projects
How Digital Twin Hub members can leverage KTP funding
- Identify your innovation challenge – What digital twin capability would transform your operations?
- Find an academic partner – We can help connect you with universities already working in your domain
- Develop your proposal – Focus on the knowledge transfer and innovation aspects
- Apply for funding – Most KTP projects receive 67-75% government funding
Success tips from the community
Based on successful KTP applications from our members:
- Start conversations with potential academic partners early
- Focus on genuine innovation, not just implementation of existing solutions
- Demonstrate clear commercial potential and scalability
- Consider how your project could benefit the wider digital twin ecosystem
Want to explore KTP funding for your digital twin project? Visit Innovate UK’s funding finder and filter for opportunities matching your sector.
Take Action
The convergence of advanced training and available funding creates a unique opportunity for practitioners ready to lead digital twin innovation in their organisations.
Whether you’re looking to:
- Build technical expertise through our Implementation course
- Secure funding through KTPs for your innovation projects
- Or ideally, both – to position yourself as a digital twin leader
Now is the time to act.
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