EVENTS: GOTOTWIN and INITIATE

Strengthening Collaboration and Innovation: GOTOTWIN at the First R&I and Policy Lab in Skopje

The GOTOTWIN project took part in the First R&I and Policy Lab in Skopje on February 27, 2025, an important event hosted by INNOFEIT and UKIM – FEEIT, that brought together experts and stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and civil society. The event provided a dynamic platform for discussing key challenges and opportunities in energy and sustainability, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. With 55 participants engaging in interactive discussions, the lab served as a catalyst for new ideas, fostering connections that bridge research, policy, and industry needs.

As an initiative dedicated to digital innovation and smart energy solutions, Prof. Dr. Zivko Kokolanski, Project manager of the GOTOTWIN project, highlighted the importance of mapping excellence for mutual collaboration between complementary projects. This approach is central to the GOTOTWIN project’s mission, ensuring that expertise, research capacities, and innovative solutions are effectively connected to maximize impact. Establishing strong synergies with projects like INITIATE strengthens cooperation across sectors, enabling digital twin technologies and living labs to contribute to sustainable development, energy efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

A key contribution to the event was the presentation by Prof. Dr. Zivko Kokolanski, who explored the integration of Digital Twins and Living Labs in the context of energy transition and smart infrastructure, one of the key priorities of GOTOTWIN. His presentation demonstrated how digital twin technology can create virtual replicas of physical energy systems, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and optimization of resources. By integrating these advanced digital tools with Living Labs—environments designed for co-creation, testing, and validation of innovative solutions—stakeholders can accelerate the adoption of smart energy solutions.

By actively engaging in this event, the GOTOTWIN project reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the decarbonization and digitalization of the energy sector. The discussions and co-creation sessions helped identify new research opportunities, and strategic collaborations that will drive forward the energy transition agenda. Through continuous networking and joint efforts with other European initiatives, GOTOTWIN is playing a crucial role in supporting the innovation ecosystem that will benefit the Adriatic-Ionian region and beyond.