On December 10, 2025, the it's OWL focus group “Digital Twin” met at NTT DATA Business Solutions in Bielefeld. inIT is involved in the focus group through the working group “Interconnected Automation Systems” led by Prof. Dr. Henning Trsek. The focus was on use cases with particular potential for a sustainable circular economy, including digital product documentation and the digital product passport.
Digital twins: practical exchange for digital transformation in OWL
The “Digital Twin” focus group is one of several focus groups in the it's OWL leading-edge cluster. It brings together experts from science and industry to make standards, technologies, and applications tangible and to develop practical solutions for digital transformation—with the aim of further strengthening East Westphalia-Lippe as a digital model region.
Use cases for circular economy and digital product passport
During the meeting, specific areas of application were identified in which digital twins can contribute to the circular economy. Among other things, discussions focused on how digital product information can be provided and used in a structured manner throughout the entire product life cycle—for example, as an alternative to printed product documentation. The digital product passport was also considered a relevant use case for digital twins. The aim of the focus group's work is to support companies and show them ways in which they can prepare for the associated requirements.
Transfer between research and practice
Philip Sehr, research assistant in the “Interconnected Automation Systems” working group headed by Prof. Dr. Henning Trsek, represented inIT in the focus group.
“The work in the focus group combines practical solutions with an effective transfer strategy to make the digital transformation as easy as possible for interested companies,” explains Philip Sehr.
All information and activities of the focus group: https://its-owl.de/angebote/angebotskatalog/digitaler-zwilling-zukunftstechnologie-fuer-ihre-produktion/