Whilst for some simpler use cases, such as cardiac digital twins, implementation is possible today, as software is used more and demand becomes higher, vendors will inevitably experience challenges. Cloud-based solutions have been adopted slowly across healthcare due to provider concerns around costs associated, patient data and the security.

The reflection — What are the key takeaways?
Although many of the digital twins discussed in this insight are still at the earliest stages of commercial maturity, activity is still bustling in the sector. Pilot sites are in place and data is being collected, which can help raise the business case for further investments.
Solutions aimed at life science settings are likely to scale quicker, with organ and patient models also possessing the opportunity to make an entry to clinical markets later down the line.

For operational digital twins, the barrier to entry is significantly lower and uptake is likely to be quicker as return on investment is proven; however, this market also presents significant risk for new entrants.

In regard to patient outcomes, we may see the rise of digital twins coupled with value-based care. However as is the case with Babylon Health, these solutions are more likely to be commoditised into telehealth platforms.

Finally, whilst data access will be integral to early-stage development, route-to-market is expected to have a larger impact in the long term. Partnerships with healthtech vendors will be integral to achieving quick commercialisation, and partnerships are expected to make or break vendors in the near-term. Digital twin company Sim&Cure have for example, partnered with multibillion dollar surgical vendor Medtronic to promote their Sim&Size preoperative planning software. Considering Medtronic already has big business within this field, the medical device giant’s vouch of confidence is sure to help influence healthcare provider’s opinions as well as open the door to many commercial conversations for the smaller company.

In conclusion, digital twins have the potential to be impactful in a wide range of healthcare settings. Whilst the technology is still a long way from delivering a complete, lifelong, physiological model of a patient, there are solutions that are expected to impact the market in the near term, with many opportunities.


About the author: Alex joined Signify Research in 2023 as a market analyst in the diagnostics and life sciences area. In summer 2023, Alex graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first-class degree in Biochemistry. Signify Research provides healthtech market intelligence powered by data that you can trust. We blend insights collected from in-depth interviews with technology vendors and healthcare professionals, with sales data reported to us by leading vendors to provide a complete and balanced view of the market trends. Our coverage areas are Medical Imaging, Clinical Care, Digital Health, Diagnostic and Life Sciences, and Healthcare IT.

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