Accelerating the use of augmented reality for enterprise digital twin solutions
The AREA Welcomes Digital Catapult as a Member
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 2, 2026 – The Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) today announced that Digital Catapult has joined the consortium. Digital Catapult will connect with organisations at the forefront of enterprise augmented reality to explore how immersive technologies can accelerate the adoption and impact of digital twins across UK industry, transforming complex data into interactive spatial environments that enable users to visualise information, model scenarios and make more informed decisions. Through its UK Digital Twin Centre, Digital Catapult will contribute its expertise in supporting high potential businesses, industry and academia to develop, test and adopt deep tech, whilst taking learnings from and contributing to the vibrant augmented reality (AR) community established by the AREA.
Digital twin solutions often leverage immersive technologies to model and simulate real-world environments, systems and processes, enabling organisations to test scenarios, optimise performance and make more informed decisions. As such, the UK Digital Twin Centre harnesses immersive technology alongside other areas of technology that underpin digital twin solutions including cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, with the membership of AREA enabling Digital Catapult to contribute towards discussion around enterprise deployment roadmaps that encompass augmented reality.
Digital Catapult is a deep tech innovation organisation driving economic growth by identifying and supporting high potential businesses to start and scale through the practical application of deep tech. It works at the intersection of government, research and academia, and industry providing specialist facilities and capabilities across frontier technologies like AI, Quantum and Advanced Connectivity Technologies. Digital Catapult is part of the Innovate UK Catapult Network, a network of world-leading technology and innovation centres providing a unique combination of cutting-edge R&D facilities and world-class technical expertise.
Katrina Thompson, Director of the UK Digital Twin Centre, said: “Collaboration and partnership is critical to unlocking economic opportunity and our membership of the AREA will enable us to connect with other members to better understand how they are developing and applying AR technologies in enterprise settings. We look forward to sharing our own experience in supporting high potential businesses to scale and contributing to conversations around the future direction and practical adoption of AR technologies across both large organisations and SMEs.” Kevin Doherty, Senior Technology Specialist – Digital Twins, Digital Catapult.
“The AREA is committed to bringing together the organizations that are shaping the future of enterprise augmented reality, and we are pleased to welcome Digital Catapult as a member,” said Mark Sage, Executive Director of the AREA. “Their unique position at the intersection of industry, academia and government, combined with their expertise in digital twins and emerging technologies, will help strengthen discussions across our community and foster new opportunities for innovation, collaboration and real-world deployment.”
About Digital Catapult
Digital Catapult drives economic growth by identifying and supporting high potential UK businesses to start and scale through the practical application of deep tech. We unlock prospects for digital companies by working at the intersection of government, academia and industry providing specialist facilities, capabilities and interdisciplinary insights. We work across frontier technologies including AI, Quantum, Advanced Connectivity and more.
We are part of the Innovate UK Catapult Network, a network of world-leading technology and innovation centres providing a unique combination of cutting-edge R&D facilities and world class technical expertise.
Visit www.digicatapult.org.uk for more information.
About the UK Digital Twin Centre
The UK Digital Twin Centre, led by Digital Catapult, is a national asset supporting the UK’s adoption and application of Digital Twin technologies. It aims to make digital twins more accessible and impactful by accelerating the practical application of deep tech, fostering industry collaboration, and driving innovation through shared learning and knowledge exchange. The UK Digital Twin Centre is a £37.6 million initiative funded by Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, with industry co-investment from Thales UK, Short Brothers, a Boeing Company, and Artemis Technologies. The Centre supports the development and adoption of digital twin technologies to drive innovation, productivity and competitiveness across UK industry.
About the AR for Enterprise Alliance (AREA)
The AR for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) is the only global membership-funded alliance helping to accelerate the adoption of enterprise AR by supporting the growth of a comprehensive ecosystem. The AREA accelerates AR adoption by creating a comprehensive ecosystem for enterprises, providers, and research institutions. AREA is an EDM Association Community. Vist the AREA website.
