The use of digital twins and other virtualization technologies presents tremendous possibilities for the development of new healthcare services and other digital applications for business and government. However, it is essential to ask: Is the technology used to build and provide these services secure enough to support 24/7 operation?

The answer is no, according to the National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria) in France. In a new initiative, the institute aims to create a strategic alliance for European digital sovereignty. Businesses are invited to take part in building this platform. First to join the alliance is Dassault Systèmes, which makes CAD applications such as SolidWorks and digital twin technologies for healthcare and other applications.

Now that more and more services are being offered in a virtualized and digital manner, digital trust is crucial. A new framework of trust around technology would be required not only in health care, but also in other sectors of the digital economy and the digital government, Inria states.

Virtual twin experiences

Inria and Dassault Systèmes have already identified two major challenges to be addressed as part of the roadmap of the new alliance: virtual twin experiences in healthcare for patients, hospitals, and healthcare systems; and the development of cybersecurity to enhance digital trust.

By participating in open innovation projects, the Digital Trusted Platform will actively engage the startup ecosystem that has grown in and around Paris since a few years. Discussions include, for instance, France's Cyber Campus cybersecurity hub and PariSanté Campus initiative for digital health research and innovation.

Photo credit: Chris Karidis