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About NDTP

The NDTP is the centralised government-led effort committed to growing national capability in digital twinning technologies and processes throughout the country. This national commitment ensures alignment with the broader strategic imperatives of the UK Government.

A key purpose of the programme is to develop the standards, frameworks, guidelines, methodologies, and tools that will be critical for building the foundation of a functioning market in digital twins and creating a springboard for growth in this area. The programme will enable digital twins to be created that individually, and when connected, are appropriately safe, secure and trustworthy, as well as ethical.

”The National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP) represents a critical endeavour in the advancement of digital twinning capabilities across the United Kingdom

Professor Dame Angela McLeanDBE, FRS – Government Chief Scientific Advisor

It will also ensure that digital twins can be developed in a way that means they are interoperable, can be adapted over time and can be developed, used and maintained in a way that is sustainable.

The programme recognises that it is essential that digital twins can be underpinned by technology and processes that are accessible to any organisation, whether from the public or private sector, irrespective of size. This will maximise the tangible benefits that digital twins can deliver, whether for business, society, government, or the environment.

Our mission

Our mission revolves around:

1

Facilitating the collection, management, and sharing of interoperable data and information in a way that provides the appropriate level of trust, security and resilience.
2

Providing capabilities for visualisation and analysis of data and information to meet different user needs and support better decision-making.
3

Enabling digital twins to be developed and used in a way that is safe, secure, trustworthy, interoperable, adaptable, sustainable and ethical.
4

Promoting access to digital twinning technology and processes for organisations of all sizes, from all sectors.
5

Supporting the development of skills and a culture that will support adoption of digital twin technologies and processes.

Our Principles

The NDTP operates on a set of guiding principles that shape its approach, ensuring that its work delivers real-world benefits, aligns with national priorities, and resonates with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia.

The NDTP principles reflect key commitments to openness, inclusivity, collaboration, and value delivery. They guide not only the development of digital infrastructure resources and supporting frameworks and guidance, but also how the programme engages with partners, fosters innovation, and establishes governance structures for the future. These principles ensure that the NDTP remains adaptable, accountable, and focused on long-term sustainability as it continues to evolve.

These principles continue to guide the NDTP’s approach, ensuring that digital twins are secure, scalable, and beneficial across all sectors. As the programme progresses, these commitments remain fundamental to shaping the future of digital twin adoption and interoperability in the UK.

The full set of NDTP Principles is outlined below:

01.

Deliver value demonstrated through measurable, tangible benefit

Iterative and incremental approaches are used to deliver measurable benefits, aligned with national strategic priorities, which demonstrate how digital twins can enable faster and more informed decision-making processes, improve efficiency, and unlock value.

02.

Develop and promote open, reusable assets, released incrementally

The programme commits to developing and promoting open-source reusable assets, released at regular intervals, and, in its role as the national programme, to fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation.

03.

Promote a culture of honesty and transparency

The programme is committed to a culture of honesty and transparency on its approach, progress and of the maturity of developing assets. It encourages dialogue and feedback to ensure alignment with user and industry requirements through continuous testing and refinement.

04.

Prioritise accessibility and inclusivity

The programme seeks to ensure that digital twins are realistically deployable and useable by all organisations, irrespective of size, with low barriers to adoption to minimise disruption.

05.

Bridge the digital skills and cultural gap

The programme supports skills and career development within the existing workforce and the next generation. It also facilitates the cultural change that will underpin the adoption of digital twins.

06.

Establish the rules of the road

The programme is developing standards, guidance, frameworks, processes and tools that underpin the creation of individual and connected, federated digital twins that work at different scales. This will directly contribute to market opportunities for investment, export, and growth.

07.

Establish strategic ownership and governance

The programme holds the responsibility for the direction of the National Digital Twin (NDT) and ownership of the artefacts developed, as well as establishing the future structures and models for their maintenance, management and evolution.

Our Principles

The NDTP operates on a set of guiding principles that shape its approach, ensuring that its work delivers real-world benefits, aligns with national priorities, and resonates with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia.

The NDTP principles reflect key commitments to openness, inclusivity, collaboration, and value delivery. They guide not only the development of digital infrastructure resources and supporting frameworks and guidance, but also how the programme engages with partners, fosters innovation, and establishes governance structures for the future. These principles ensure that the NDTP remains adaptable, accountable, and focused on long-term sustainability as it continues to evolve.

These principles continue to guide the NDTP’s approach, ensuring that digital twins are secure, scalable, and beneficial across all sectors. As the programme progresses, these commitments remain fundamental to shaping the future of digital twin adoption and interoperability in the UK.

The full set of NDTP Principles is outlined below:

01.

Deliver value demonstrated through measurable, tangible benefit

Iterative and incremental approaches are used to deliver measurable benefits, aligned with national strategic priorities, which demonstrate how digital twins can enable faster and more informed decision-making processes, improve efficiency, and unlock value.

02.

Develop and promote open, reusable assets, released incrementally

The programme commits to developing and promoting open-source reusable assets, released at regular intervals, and, in its role as the national programme, to fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation.

03.

Promote a culture of honesty and transparency

The programme is committed to a culture of honesty and transparency on its approach, progress and of the maturity of developing assets. It encourages dialogue and feedback to ensure alignment with user and industry requirements through continuous testing and refinement.

04.

Prioritise accessibility and inclusivity

The programme seeks to ensure that digital twins are realistically deployable and useable by all organisations, irrespective of size, with low barriers to adoption to minimise disruption.

05.

Bridge the digital skills and cultural gap

The programme supports skills and career development within the existing workforce and the next generation. It also facilitates the cultural change that will underpin the adoption of digital twins.

06.

Establish the rules of the road

The programme is developing standards, guidance, frameworks, processes and tools that underpin the creation of individual and connected, federated digital twins that work at different scales. This will directly contribute to market opportunities for investment, export, and growth.

07.

Establish strategic ownership and governance

The programme holds the responsibility for the direction of the National Digital Twin (NDT) and ownership of the artefacts developed, as well as establishing the future structures and models for their maintenance, management and evolution.

What is the National Digital Twin?

The National Digital Twin (NDT) will be an ecosystem of multi-domain, multi-sector digital models including digital twins, connected via securely shared, interoperable data and information of a known quality.

It is not a single digital twin of the UK, rather it will allow users to bring together the information and models they require to answer specific user cases, subject to security controls to restrict access to sensitive information to those with a genuine need-to-know, and legal frameworks which specify how information can be used.

The standards, guidance, frameworks, methodologies and tools developed by the NDTP will underpin and enable the creation of a NDT that encompasses the built and natural environment and the services provided by, or from them.​

The NDT will amplify collaboration by encouraging the appropriate sharing of data, information and models, and supporting interoperability to unlock significant benefits and amplify data-driven decision-making capability.

Our history

Tranche 1 - History

The NDTP was initiated in 2018 with funding from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which commissioned the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) to develop the vision and principles for a National Digital Twin (Tranche 1).

At the end of March 2022, when Tranche 1 concluded, the programme was transitioned into direct government management to align more closely with national policy objectives. Following departmental restructuring in 2023, the NDTP became part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), where it continues to be managed.

Tranche 2 - History

Between April 2022 and March 2025 (Tranche 2) the NDTP’s focus shifted to developing initial capability through the first iteration of some of the guidance, frameworks and tools required to support the creation of an NDT. Over this time the NDTP has significantly evolved, focusing on:

  • Developing and deploying the first version of the open-source Integration Architecture (IA) to enable trusted, secure, and interoperable data sharing.
  • Expanding the Information Exchange Standard (IES) to facilitate interoperability across multiple sectors.
  • Delivering demonstrator projects that test digital twin capabilities in real-world applications, including energy systems, infrastructure resilience, and emergency response.
  • Strengthening engagement with industry, academia, and government, driving adoption and real-world implementation.

Tranche 3 - Current status

At the end of March 2025, the programme reached a critical phase as it came to the end of Tranche 2 and progressed into Tranche 3, with a strong focus on scaling and operationalising key components of the NDT. The current priorities include:

  • Development of the IA Node Net (N2) as a cluster of deployed nodes under the control of a Management Node and the progression towards the National Node Net (N3) to enable multi-sector interoperability.
  • Completing the operating frameworks (legal, security, safety, ethics, sustainability and commercial) essential for a fully functional NDT.
  • Strengthening collaborations with critical government initiatives, such as the Virtual Energy System (VES) and Ministry of Defence’s Odyssey Programme, ensuring alignment with net zero, national security, and economic growth strategies.

Tranche 4 - Looking forward

Looking ahead, the NDTP will transition into its fourth and final Tranche in April 2030, which will last until March 2035. This phase will focus on wider adoption, implementation, and long-term governance. By the programme’s conclusion, a sustainable governance framework will be in place to ensure that digital twin technologies continue to drive economic, social, and environmental benefits for the UK well beyond 2035.

Our team

The NDTP is delivered through a collaborative model, bringing together specialist suppliers, subject matter experts, industry partners, and academic institutions to develop the technical frameworks, standards, and infrastructure needed to enable a National Digital Twin.

The programme also engages with a wide range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors who are actively involved in the NDTP’s demonstrator work, testing the outputs in real-world situations. This approach ensures that the programme benefits from cutting-edge expertise, innovation, and sector-specific knowledge and experience, while fostering broad engagement across the ecosystem.

The direction and management of the programme is maintained within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), ensuring strategic oversight and alignment with government priorities.

Alexandra Luck
Programme Director
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Alex Atudosie
Programme Manager
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