Research helps SMEs develop digital twins

Smart twin births Research helps SMEs develop digital twins

2024-09-30 Source: Bielefeld University | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

FAULHABER Drive Systems

dataTec AG

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

Thanks to its successful participation in a nationwide competition, the Explore project now has 1.66 million euros in funding to develop digital twins.

Do you belong to the SME sector and don't really have the confidence to develop digital twins for your systems? Then Bielefeld University is the right place for you. Because SMEs in particular are now being supported there in this respect ...(Image: Smartgeneering) — Do you belong to the SME sector and don't really have the confidence to develop digital twins for your systems? Then Bielefeld University is the right place for you. Because SMEs in particular are now being supported there in this respect ...
(Image: Smartgeneering)

This investment will create a platform for the development and optimization of digital twins that can map "intelligent" automation systems and human-centric artificial intelligence (AI) in realistic simulations. Bielefeld University and the Fraunhofer IOSB in Lemgo are involved in the project. The results expected over the next three years will not only strengthen the long-standing cooperation between the two institutions, but also represent an important building block for the technological development of the East Westphalia-Lippe region. In close cooperation, an infrastructure is being set up that combines powerful simulation and rendering platforms at Bielefeld University with modern automation technologies at the "SmartFactoryOWL" in Lemgo. This is the first research infrastructure for digital twins in the region. The use of artificial intelligence when working with industrial robots could take industrial production to a whole new level.

Faster to reality through smart simulation

The new infrastructure enables industrial companies - especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - to create digital twins of machines and systems. These simulations replicate real-life scenarios and offer an efficient way of finding answers to technical questions, as well as for the further development of physical machines and systems. Creating realistic digital twins and using scientific expertise in the process now makes it possible to test real automation processes virtually in advance and optimize them during operation. What is special, however, is that the infrastructure offers state-of-the-art computer technology with AI and GPU accelerators that enable researchers and companies to improve both the development and operation of complex automation systems. The findings from these simulations can be transferred directly into real applications, which secures and accelerates the realization of projects.

Unternehmen, die digitale Zwillinge bereits einsetzen, berichten von erheblichen Kosteneinsparungen und Produktivitätsgewinnen. (Bild: PNG City - stock.adobe.com)

A good opportunity for young research talent

In addition to closely linking research and business, the project also aims to get young people interested in future technologies, according to the statement. A particular focus is on the use of the Omniverse platform from market leader Nvidia and its extension with open source software. This innovative software platform makes it possible to create realistic digital twins of novel AI systems in virtual environments, which should represent an exciting opportunity for young talents who want to find their first points of contact with state-of-the-art technologies and their application in the region. The Explore project is therefore a key step towards strengthening innovation in our region. And together with Digital Twin Factory GmbH, the partners are building a strong research base that will strengthen the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region as a location for pioneering technologies in the field of automation and robotics in the long term.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.