We’re thrilled to spotlight a project and concept video developed by some of the Node’s young researchers. HYDROTWIN: Digital Twin Platform for Optimizing Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Heterogeneous Biomass, is a business-oriented concept developed by a student team from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) & the Department of Environment at the University of the Aegean, for the BISC-E Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe 2025.
The HYDROTWIN team – Dimitrios Liakos, Konstantinos Mexis, Georgia Altiparmaki, and Nikolaos Falaris, supervised by Prof. Antonis Kokosis and Prof. Stergios Vakalis – impressed the committee with a sophisticated digital-twin solution that models and optimizes hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) processes for diverse biomass feedstocks. By digitally replicating the reactor environment, the platform enables real-time tuning of operational parameters, leading to increased bio-oil yields, reduced energy consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A comprehensive video of the HYDROTWIN project is now available on YouTube:
As part of NTUA’s training activities organised in the framework of the Bioindustry 4.0 project, young researchers were guided through the full cycle of conceptualising, designing, and implementing digital services. This hands-on approach demonstrated how theoretical principles from Bioindustry 4.0, such as digitalisation, advanced sensing, and smart bioprocessing, can be translated into a concrete digital service with real-world potential. The activity combined technological development, business modelling, and exploitation planning, helping participants understand both the technical and strategic aspects of digital innovation.
The national final of BISC-E 2025 took place on June 30 at the School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
As the national winner, the HYDROTWIN team represented Greece at the European BISC-E 2025 finals, competing against top five teams from across Europe, showcasing the value of the project and raising awareness of its innovative approach.