EU Funding to Advance Digital Twin Asset Management Initiative

The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) has secured €97,500 in European Union funding under the SA-EU Dialogue Facility 3.0 to advance a flagship policy initiative that will transform how public infrastructure is planned, managed and maintained.

The initiative, “Towards a Digital Twin Province: Building a Connected and Intelligent Asset Management Ecosystem”, sees the Western Cape’s Department of Infrastructure utilise cutting-edge technology to digitally map every aspect of the buildings it manages. Replicating managed buildings digitally allows the Department to undertake real-time monitoring, analysis and optimisation of the actual infrastructure the models represent. The technology will also enable the Department to virtually test the impact of any proposed innovations before these are actually implemented in the real world.

All of this directly supports Provincial Minister Tertuis Simmers’ priorities of strong infrastructure governance, improved service delivery, and smarter public investment, and will translate to real-world efficiency improvements in the management of the Western Cape Government’s facilities.

The new funding will see DOI significantly expand its portfolio of scanned buildings. As a partnership project with the European Union, the initiative will be undertaken in collaboration with Estonia – a global leader in digital governance.

“A Digital Twin Province is about using data and technology to plan better, maintain smarter, and invest more responsibly. This initiative strengthens our ability to deliver reliable infrastructure, reduce long-term costs and ensure that every rand invested delivers real value to communities”, said Minister Simmers.

“This work will deliver clear policy guidelines, explore sustainable and blended financing models, and produce a practical implementation roadmap, positioning the Western Cape as a pilot for scalable digital infrastructure governance.”

“I commend Jodie Thomas of the Department for her leadership in securing the approval of this project, reinforcing our growing international credibility and commitment to innovation-led delivery”, Minister Simmers concluded.