BSI prepares Kitemark for digital twins’ maturity

Justin Stanton

Editor, DC+

21 September 2026

The BSI is preparing a Kitemark for digital twin maturity that will provide independent, third-party assurance that an organisation has the governance, capability and controls necessary to deploy and operate digital twins effectively.

Image: 159665796 | Vector © Jakarin Niamklang | Dreamstime.com — Image: Jakarin Niamklang | Dreamstime.com

The Kitemark will be formally launched in October. Built around ISO/IEC 30186 Digital twin – maturity model and guidance for a maturity assessment and other key international standards, it demonstrates that an organisation’s digital twin capability is:

independently verified;

governed effectively;

supported by security and governance controls;

based on quality, information management and data controls;

focused on delivering clear business value;

managed through a commitment to continuous improvement; and

aligned to recognised good practice.

The Kitemark doesn’t dictate which technology an organisation should use or the implementation methods. Instead, it provides a framework for assessing whether organisations can successfully govern, deploy and realise value from digital twins.

The Kitemark assesses and assures an organisation’s capability across several behaviours that determine long-term success:

1. Governance and competency

Clear accountability and ownership.

Active leadership commitment.

Competence and skills frameworks.

Defined roles and responsibilities.

2. Digital twin capability and maturity

Appropriate maturity for intended use.

Lifecycle management processes.

Effective operational deployment.

Continuous development and improvement.

3. Data and information

Data quality and integrity.

Information governance.

Traceability and lineage.

Interoperability across systems.

4. Security and trust

Cybersecurity management.

Risk assessment processes.

Protection of critical information.

Confidence in digital infrastructure.

5. Value realisation

Defined business objectives.

Benefits tracking.

Outcome measurement.

Evidence-based decision-making.

In a blog post, the BSI stated: “Digital twins are being adopted faster than organisations can build the frameworks to govern, assess and assure them. Because the term ‘digital twin’ is currently used to describe a wide range of different digital capabilities, it creates confusion across the market. Without a consistent framework, organisations risk fragmented approaches, unrealistic expectations and struggle to show real business value. Ultimately, digital-twin adoption depends on trust.”

Those interested in the Kitemark can get involved in the pilot next month.

Keep up to date with DC+: sign up for the midweek newsletter.

Topics:

BSI Digital twins

Story for Digital Construction Plus? Get in touch via email: [email protected]