Loughborough University academics have played a crucial role in developing an ethical framework for the UK’s National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP). This framework marks a key step in the government’s initiative to expand national digital twinning capabilities, first introduced by HM Treasury in 2018. The programme aims to establish a robust infrastructure for digital twin technologies, which are virtual models of physical objects, systems, or processes. These models use real-time data connections to help policymakers make informed decisions by simulating various scenarios.
The ethical framework, developed by a group of leading experts, addresses the emerging challenges of integrating digital twinning into public policy and governance. The guidelines focus on principles such as inclusive growth, human-centred values, and ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability. These principles aim to ensure that digital twinning technologies contribute to sustainable development and the well-being of society.
The technical working group, including Loughborough University’s Professors Tom Jackson and Ian Hodgkinson, emphasised the importance of ensuring that digital twins remain secure, robust, and ethically sound. As the programme progresses, further development of these principles will be essential to guide the evolving technology in ways that support long-term societal goals.
