The Erasmus+ project Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing has reached an exciting new stage. On September 17–18, 2025, the project consortium gathered in Ruse, Bulgaria, hosted by the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of the project partners. This meeting marked the transition from development to implementation, setting the stage for the pilot activities and the upcoming skill competitions.
Over the past months, the partners have worked intensively to design and finalize innovative training materials. The results are impressive: more than 450 hours of high-quality learning content for students and workers eager to gain skills in Digital Twin technologies. Since the course is delivered online, particular attention has been paid to interactivity and engagement. Multimedia resources, animations, and simulations have been integrated to ensure learners remain motivated and immersed throughout their journey.
In parallel with the digital resources, the consortium has also established five Digital Twin physical laboratories in Italy, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, and Sweden. These labs provide learners with hands-on opportunities to experience smart manufacturing processes supported by Digital Twin technology. To complement them, virtual labs have also been developed, ensuring that anyone (regardless of location) can access training and practice with state-of-the-art tools. Together, these resources create an inclusive learning ecosystem that blends theory with real-world application.
The next major milestone is the pilot phase, scheduled to begin in mid-November 2025. At that point, the project’s online learning platform will open its doors to more than 500 participants. This pilot will be a crucial testing ground, allowing learners to explore the course and provide feedback on content, usability, and the overall learning experience. Their insights will help the consortium fine-tune and further enhance the materials, ensuring the final version is as effective and impactful as possible.
Looking further ahead, the project will culminate in a series of skill competitions. Starting around May 2026, national competitions will be organized in the five partner countries, with participation open to learners from other nations as well. These competitions will showcase the abilities of future professionals trained in Digital Twin technologies, while also raising awareness of the skills required in modern smart manufacturing.
The winners of each national event will advance to the International Skill Competition, hosted by the project coordinator, Apro Formazione (Italy), in autumn 2026. This event will be the highlight of the project, offering an opportunity to celebrate achievements, exchange experiences, and promote excellence in digital skills training at a European level.
In the coming weeks, several dissemination conferences will be organized across the partner countries. These events will share more details about the pilot launch and the skill competitions, giving stakeholders and interested participants a chance to learn about the opportunities ahead.
The Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing project is not only building innovative learning pathways but also fostering a European community of skilled professionals ready to embrace the future of industry.
Stay tuned for more updates – our journey into the next phase has just begun!
