Scientifically, SmartWins advanced beyond the state of the art by developing an integrated Digital Twin framework that links LCA, Level(s), BIM, IEQ, IoT and AI analytics into a single, operational methodology for whole-life building assessment. This moves from static, design-only evaluations to dynamic, data-driven Digital Twins that continuously combine real-time sensor data, BIM geometry and life-cycle indicators for energy, comfort and environmental performance.
The project produced a strong, thematically coherent publication portfolio (20+ papers) on BIM–LCA integration, geometric requirements for DT-ready energy models, IEQ digitalisation, AI-enabled analytics and interoperability. This portfolio is systematically connected to twinning activities (staff exchanges, schools, new PhD course), illustrating a genuine co-creation of frontier science between the widening institution and advanced partners, and not mere knowledge transfer.
Beyond research methods, SmartWins innovated in education and institutionalisation: it created and formally approved a PhD module on “Sustainable Decision Making in the Construction Sector” and then leveraged these capacities to secure SmartCaNBE, an Erasmus Mundus Design Measures project preparing a joint master on Industry 4.0 and smart, carbon-neutral built environments.
Finally, the transition from Twinning to funded technology-transfer (CRedIBlE) and a long-term EMJM pipeline demonstrates a novel Twinning model where capacity building directly unlocks innovation deployment and European educational leadership.
