BDTA and IDTA Sign Strategic Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Global Digital Twin Interoperability
Brussels / Frankfurt, 1 July 2025 – The Building Digital Twin Association (BDTA) and the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and foster the growth of a global ecosystem for interoperable digital twins.
The agreement was signed by Elke Moors, Managing Director of BDTA, and Dr. Christian Mosch, Managing Director of IDTA, marking a significant step in aligning initiatives across the built environment and industrial sectors. Both associations share the ambition to accelerate the uptake of digital twin technologies and ensure that they are scalable, interoperable, and future-proof.
Focus on interoperability through the Asset Administration Shell
A central focus of the collaboration will be the Asset Administration Shell (AAS), a key enabler of interoperability across domains. The AAS acts as the “digital identity card” of an asset, providing a standardized structure to organize and exchange data throughout its lifecycle. This ensures that information can be shared consistently across different systems, sectors, and applications of Digital Twins. By aligning efforts around AAS, BDTA and IDTA aim to ensure that digital twin technologies in buildings, cities, and infrastructure are seamlessly connected with industrial applications in manufacturing, energy, and beyond.
Areas of collaboration
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in the following areas:
- Joint topics of interest: Identification of overlapping priorities for closer cooperation.
- Mutual participation: Cross-invitations to meetings, working groups, and selected events.
- Knowledge exchange: Sharing of public studies, technical publications, and communication materials.
- Joint visibility: Coordinated marketing and promotional efforts, including press releases, events, and international conferences.
- Strategic alignment: Regular interactions between leadership teams and technical working groups to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication of work.
Benefits for industry, academia, and policymakers
The collaboration reflects the willingness of both associations to pool expertise and create synergies. By working together, BDTA and IDTA will reinforce the global positioning of digital twin technologies, delivering value not only to industry and academia but also to public authorities and policymakers seeking integrated, data-driven solutions for societal challenges.
Leadership perspectives
“This MoU represents an important milestone for BDTA,” said Elke Moors, Managing Director of BDTA. “Our mission is to advance digital twin technologies in the built environment. By partnering with IDTA, we are ensuring that our approaches are interoperable, aligned with industrial standards, and capable of delivering holistic solutions that stand the test of time.”
“Collaboration is key to scaling the Industrial Digital Twin,” added Dr. Christian Mosch, Managing Director of IDTA. “Through this partnership, we are not only fostering interoperability between sectors, but also accelerating the availability of digital twin solutions that can be adopted globally.”
A step toward a global ecosystem
The MoU sends a strong signal to the international digital twin community: collaboration across domains is essential to unlock the full potential of digital twins. By combining expertise from the building and industrial worlds, BDTA and IDTA are laying the groundwork for a comprehensive and globally relevant digital twin ecosystem. With this strategic milestone, both associations reaffirm their commitment to innovation, interoperability, and collaboration, positioning digital twins as a cornerstone of the digital transformation of industry and the built environment