Software that adapts to FinEst.
Mapping FinEst’s vision
The innovation hub in Helsinki, Forum Virium, first wanted to explore how Finland and Estonia could become more resilient together during these uncertain geopolitical times.
One of their key ideas was that data could be the link: if the two countries shared information more openly and securely, they could handle sudden changes and challenges more effectively.
This vision manifested in the FinEst Twins project, which among other things looked at how data could be used to strengthen collaboration between the two nations. Forum Virium was looking for new ways to make data easier to collect, safer to share, and more useful for both societies.
The bigger picture was to use this shared knowledge to improve everyday life, from transport and housing to healthcare, energy, and how citizens engage with their cities.
Blocks to build on
After scouring the European market for platforms with as many key features as possible, we came across an established company. Their product, Nexus Twin, could serve as the base digital twin platform, which we could then adapt and tailor to meet the specific needs of the project.
Once the project was secured, our first priority was to clearly define its goals. Terms like resilience and data are broad, so we needed a concrete starting point. Around that time, the nationwide blackout in Spain took place, sparking an idea: what if we could simulate how the electrical grid between and within Finland and Estonia would react to stress events; for example, a rapid increase in renewable energy generation or an unexpected external shock?.
This concept immediately resonated with our counterparts at Forum Virium and their partners, who saw great potential in the approach. With the support from Nexus Twin, we set out to bring the idea to life.
Tailor-made solutions
What’s missing?
A Digital Twin is essentially a sandbox: it needs to be populated with data, and that data must then be analysed in a way that reflects the client’s or project’s specific needs. Given the security concerns, we focused on two key steps:
1. Building a logical and realistic data model that could show general trends but also be replaced with real-time data in the simulation. To ensure accuracy, we worked closely with experts from Vasa University and grid operators such as Fingrid and Helen.
2. Creating an analysis model capable of examining the impact of sudden events — like rapid increases in renewables or external shocks — and visualising the outcomes clearly inside the Digital Twin.
This combination allowed us to generate realistic scenarios that grid operators in both countries could use to better understand the consequences of their decisions.
Long-term partnership
This first phase of the project was about testing and validating the concept of using Digital Twins for energy resilience. The next step, together with Forum Virium, is to explore how the solution can be integrated into the daily operations of grid operators such as Fingrid and Helen.
More than just proving a technology, the project has shown the importance of building long-term partnerships and tailoring solutions to the real needs of the organisations involved. A Digital Twin is not a finished product, but a sandbox that grows and evolves with its users — and our role is to guide that evolution in close collaboration with our partners. In this way, the work becomes not just about digital tools, but about creating a shared foundation for energy resilience and cross-border cooperation between Finland and Estonia.
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