In the halls of European policymaking, we often hear the words “Twin Transition.” It sounds simple enough: make the economy greener and more digital. But as anyone working on the front lines of innovation knows, the state of play is a complex web of dependencies. Can we achieve carbon neutrality without AI-driven smart grids? Can we scale digital infrastructure without increasing our environmental footprint?
At TWINRD, we believe that to answer these questions, we need to stop looking at “Green” and “Digital” as separate tracks. We need a new framework: Ecodigital Futures.
The Logic of the “Twin” Transition
Our latest research, recently detailed in our milestone report Twin Transition: Concept and Challenges, reveals that the traditional ways of measuring economic progress are no longer sufficient. If we want to reach the EU’s 2050 goals, we must move beyond “Sustainability 1.0″—which is mostly about doing less harm—and move toward a Regenerative Economy.
This is an economy that doesn’t just sustain itself but actively restores natural and social capital through smart, purposeful R&I investment.
Mapping the DNA of Innovation
How do we get there? Data. But not just any data. While many macroeconomic models operate on broad sectoral averages, TWINRD is going deeper. We are currently mapping the Research & Development pathways of 66 specific technologies. By understanding how a breakthrough in battery storage or a leap in machine learning affects productivity and emissions across borders, we provide policymakers with a high-definition GPS to navigate the transition.
A Shared European Mission
We aren’t doing this alone. TWINRD is part of a powerful cluster of Horizon Europe projects, including FITTER, READJUST, ST4TE, GreenPaths, Twin Synergies, gEneSys Project, Women in Solidarity for Energy, ESIRA Project and Renpower. Together, we are ensuring that the transition is not only technologically advanced but also industrially resilient and socially just.
While some projects focus on the social and industrial dimensions, TWINRD acts as the analytical “engine room,” providing quantitative proofs that these transitions can—and must—work together.
