The University of Aveiro hosted a dynamic and forward-looking workshop titled “Transforming Industry with Digital Twins”, gathering researchers, innovators, and industry leaders from across Europe to explore the rapidly evolving role of digital twin technologies in industrial transformation.

The full-day event, chaired by Paula M. Vilarinho, brought together experts from academia and industry to discuss how digitalization and virtualization are redefining manufacturing, energy systems, and production processes.

Opening Session: Setting the Stage for Industrial Transformation

The morning began with welcome remarks by João Veloso, Vice-Rector of the University of Aveiro; Nelson Ferreira, Director General of the PRR Agenda ILLIANCE; and Pedro Vilarinho, Director General of HiSeedTech. Together, they highlighted the strategic importance of digital twins in advancing Portugal’s industrial competitiveness and sustainability under the country’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

From Batteries to Smart Factories: Morning Highlights

The first keynote, delivered by Alejandro Franco (Université de Picardie Jules Verne, France), delved into digital tools for the accelerated optimization of battery manufacturing processes, bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications.

Following that, Luca Montorsi (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy) explored virtualization and digital twin approaches in energy-intensive industries, underscoring the potential for efficiency gains and carbon footprint reduction.

After a networking coffee break, Nelson Ferreira (Bosch Termotecnologia, Portugal) took the stage to separate myths from reality in Industry 4.0, while Hélder Almeida (EFACEC, Portugal) presented a compelling talk on 3D Digital Twinsas tools for empowering the future of manufacturing and infrastructure.

Afternoon Session: Practical Applications and Industry Insights

Chaired by Nelson Ferreira, the afternoon session focused on real-world applications and the business value of digital twins.

Ricardo Belo (NTT DATA, Portugal) presented use cases of Digital Twins that are already driving innovation in various industrial sectors. António Almeida (INESC TEC, Porto) discussed how digitalization can boost industrial competitiveness, followed by André Godinho (Infinite Foundry) who showcased real-time 3D cloud technologies as enablers of productivity and innovation.

Collaborative Thinking: The Future of Digital Twins

The day culminated in a round table discussion moderated by Pedro Vilarinho, featuring a diverse panel including Alejandro Franco, António Almeida, Hélder Almeida, Luca Montorsi, Nelson Ferreira, and Ricardo Belo. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration, robust data ecosystems, and investment in digital skills to fully harness the potential of digital twins across European industries.

Closing Reflections and Next Steps

In the closing session, José Carlos Caldeira (INESC TEC) presented the rapporteur report, summarizing the key takeaways and strategic directions emerging from the day’s discussions.

Paula M. Vilarinho concluded with a vision of sustained collaboration between academia, research centers, and industry to drive Portugal’s digital and green transition.

Participants closed the day with an informal networking coffee, exchanging ideas and partnerships for the next wave of industrial innovation.

Check the photos of the event: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3z4c91Co8f5QQrzZ7 

And the video with the highlights: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPnzC4jjHS7/