From documents to a knowledge-driven digital twin: Transforming a highly regulated nuclear environment | DUC East
We are looking for students in process engineering, communications, sustainability, ICT, creative design, international business, gaming and mechanical engineering who can turn a complex technical story into an engaging, realistic and interactive concept.
1. Description of the Challenge
The Problem As an international supplier of uranium enrichment services, Urenco stores critical operational knowledge across thousands of traditional engineering documents, drawings, specifications, and records. While these documents remain essential, their disconnected nature hampers efficient information access, knowledge integration, and data-driven decision-making across the asset lifecycle.
The Challenge Develop a high-level organizational and strategic framework to transition Urenco Netherlands from a document-centric approach to a knowledge-driven Digital Twin ecosystem. Your strategy must address core operational and governance pillars; including cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, data management, technology architecture, and organizational change management; without proposing specific software platforms.
2. Expected Outcome
Deliver a compelling 10-minute strategy presentation accompanied by a clear visual concept model (such as a diagram, process flow, or mock-up) that illustrates your Digital Twin concept. The proposal must demonstrate measurable business value and inspire Urenco’s executive leadership to view the Digital Twin as a vital business enabler while addressing strict security and regulatory demands.
About Urenco
Urenco is an international company that enriches uranium for use in nuclear power plants. They use a special centrifuge technology to enrich uranium, making it suitable as fuel for nuclear reactors. In addition to energy production, enriched uranium is also used for medical applications, such as cancer treatment. Urenco has plants in the Netherlands (Almelo), Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Urenco's main activity is uranium enrichment, which means that they concentrate uranium to a level suitable for use in nuclear reactors. This enriched uranium is then supplied to nuclear power plants around the world, which use it to generate electricity. Urenco also produces stable isotopes, which are used for medical applications such as diagnostics and therapy.
Urenco is a British-German-Dutch consortium, founded in 1970, that builds on earlier research into ultracentrifuge technology. The company plays an important role in the global energy market and contributes to the production of clean energy. In addition to its industrial activities, Urenco is also involved in local communities, for example by sponsoring sports and cultural activities and supporting educational initiatives.