reports

Innovation Twins 2020-2025: impact and outcomes

This report offers insight into the outcomes and impact of the Innovation Twins since its launch in 2020 of the first full pilot programme between the UK and South Korea completed.

January 28, 2026

Reviewing the programme with South Korea, as well as the first phase exploration of opportunities between South Wales and Japan, the report reflects on the past five years of activity. Looking at the processes and activities conducted, the report shares the impact that has been generated for the local authority, academic, and industry participants of the programme.

It looks into the strategic partnerships that have been enabled for participant cities and regions and their stakeholders and how the new relationships support by the programme have led to the leveraging of bilateral and multilateral funding that is now supporting UK researchers and innovators to collaborate with international partners.

As Connected Places Catapult continues to explore the programme for new UK and international partners, it shares some of the lessons learned from these first programmes, helping us to refine the programme further for the next five years.