The SIMTWIN project has made substantial contributions to current debates at the intersection of technology, ethics, and health. Our research activities have focused on presenting emerging findings, engaging with academic and professional communities, and publishing conceptual and empirical work that addresses key ethical and societal implications of Digital Twin technologies.
a) In line with WP1, we have prioritized public engagement and knowledge transfer through open and accessible formats. As part of our efforts to organize regular meetings and workshops, maintain digital outreach, and host public scenario events, a public lecture series titled “Lunch Series” has been established. This ongoing series brings together international researchers working at the intersection of health, AI, and ethics, providing a welcoming and intellectually open space for them to share their work. To date, thirteen speakers have participated in the series, which is offered in both online and in-person formats and is open to the public. Another initiative aimed at public dialogue and ethical reflection is the “Diskutier Ma(h)l” series. These events invite professors and researchers to present politically and ethically relevant topics in an informal setting that encourages public interaction over a shared meal. The format has steadily gained traction, attracting a growing number of participants from outside the academic sphere and supporting our goal of fostering inclusive and accessible ethical discourse around emerging technologies.
b) As part of WP2: we have contributed to academic dialogue around Digital Twins, particularly through talks and presentations. In alignment with Task 2.3 which calls for two talks or conferences per year to present the results of SIMTWIN, we have given a number of talks that explore the intersection of Digital Twins, Digital Brain Twins, and disability.
We have also presented multiple posters at international conferences, focusing on themes that connect Digital Twins with linguistic and brain simulations. Moreover, we have received invitations to upcoming conferences, where we will speak on the ethical and conceptual implications of Digital Twins, with particular emphasis on human dignity and brain simulation.
c) In line with WP3, we conduct a study on stakeholder attitudes toward AI-based contactless sensor technologies in healthcare. The findings, based on five stakeholder groups, offer insights into ethical and social concerns and have been submitted for publication and currently it is accessible as a preprint.
d) Under WP4: Analysis of Implied Normative Concepts, our work has centered on identifying and analyzing the normative assumptions embedded in Digital Twin technologies. This work has led to a number of peer-reviewed publications focusing on topics such as the ethical dimensions of decommissioning Digital Twins, the role of personalized patient preference predictors in healthcare decision-making, and conceptual models of disability grounded in ecological-enactive theory.
e) In line with WP6, regarding the tasks of governance conceptualization and analyzing governance frameworks, we have multiple publications on Solidarity Gaps, Digital Sovereignty, and Human-centered AI.
