Delivered by Digital Catapult, the Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator Programme 2026 is a nine-month programme that supports partnerships between UK technology SMEs and industry adopters to accelerate the adoption of digital twin technologies. Working together, participants will develop innovative proof-of-concept solutions that address real-world adoption challenges across the automotive, agri-tech, maritime, aerospace (including space), defence, clean energy, creative industries and life sciences sectors. Successful projects will receive up to £100,000 in Innovate UK grant funding, alongside technical expertise, mentoring and access to specialist facilities to help accelerate the development and deployment of their solutions.
During the nine-month programme, participants will be supported by Digital Catapult and the UK Digital Twin Centre partners through:
- Up to £100,000 in Innovate UK grant funding per successful project
- Expert technical support from Digital Catapult’s innovation and technology teams to help develop and refine digital twin solutions
- Access to real-world environments to test and validate proof-of-concept projects
- Dedicated 1-2-1 mentoring throughout the programme
- Hands-on collaboration between technology innovators and industry adopters to solve genuine business challenges
- Support from the UK Digital Twin Centre industry partners
- Opportunities to expand your network through connections with industry leaders, technology experts and the wider digital twin ecosystem
- An end of programme showcase event to demonstrate their solutions to an audience of industry, government and investors
Who can apply?
The Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator Programme is open to pre-formed partnerships between a UK technology SME and an industry organisation looking to adopt digital twin technologies.
Partner 1: A Technology SME from across the UK developing solutions in one or more of the six enabling technology areas that underpin digital twins:
Partner 2: An industry adopter/organisation operating in one of the following sectors that are seeking to address a digital twin adoption challenge:
Either the technology SME or the industry adopter may act as the lead applicant. The programme will support nine partnerships to develop proof-of-concept projects that accelerate the adoption of digital twins in industry.
Both companies in the consortium must be registered in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
State Assistance: Technology Vendors must be eligible to receive £18,477.50 plus the proportion of the £100,000 cash grant that is allocated to the Technology Vendor in State Assistance. The maximum amount of State Assistance provided to the Technology Vendor will be £118,477.50. Industry Adopters must be eligible to receive £14,205.00 plus the proportion of the £100,000 cash grant that is allocated to the Industry Adopter in State Assistance. The maximum amount of State Assistance provided to the Technology Vendor will be £114,205.00.
- Cyber-physical systems
- Data services
- Security and trustworthiness
- Immersive technologies and user experience
- Intelligence
- Integration and interoperability
- Automotive
- Agri-tech
- Maritime
- Aerospace (including space)
- Defence
- Clean energy
- Creative industries
- Life sciences
Technology details
What are the six enabling technology areas that underpin digital twins?
- Cyber physical systems – (Sensors and connected devices, edge computing, sensor networks, real-time monitoring)
- Data services – (Data platforms and databases, big data processing, predictive analytics, interoperability)
- Security and trustworthiness – (Systems for sharing data or automating decisions, cyber resilience, data integrity, secure architectures)
- Immersive and UX – (Simulation interfaces, immersive environments, and dashboards)
- Intelligence – (Simulation and Modelling, AI-driven decision-making, machine learning, autonomy)
- Integration and interoperability
