The physical city is not accessible to everyone. By using a local digital twin, AI and immersive technology, the innovation project European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness is creating an open, scalable and replicable model for inclusive digital twins across Europe. Aiming to broaden access – with a particular focus on families – the project seeks to lower thresholds and barriers by helping people explore and simulate a city visit at home before experiencing it in real life.
“I want to go there now.”
For many families, visiting a new city or an event doesn’t start with excitement. Questions such as “What does the place look like? Where is the wheelchair entrance? How loud and crowded will it be?” can determine whether some families can go at all.
European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness project is creating a digital plug-in based on the digital twin of the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. The prototype makes city visits and participation to events easier. Users can preview entrances, seating, lighting, experience sound levels and crowd density directly from their own device.“I saw potential in how digital twin and Citiverse technology could support families who today face barriers and exclusion in accessing activities. For families who constantly need to plan every detail in advance, the ability to explore a place digitally can make a real difference.” says Jenny Lindström Beijar, Founder of Our Normal Association and inclusion lead in the project.
On the path to a digital and inclusive Europe
“We’re at a unique intersection where real user needs meet cutting-edge technology. Younite AI leads the implementation of an open digital twin platform built on OpenUSD, enabling cities to work together across Europe. A key capability is simulation for accessibility: allowing users to explore, test, and understand urban environments in advance, from navigation to sensory conditions. The ambition is to make city life accessible on equal terms.” says Laura Olin, Chief of Staff, Younite AI.
By integrating NVIDIA Omniverse libraries, the solution enables advanced capabilities such as real‑time navigation for people with a broad diversity of needs. The platform is designed to support accessibility‑aware navigation, for example suggesting routes that avoid stairs, steep grades or narrow passages, and adapting guidance to different mobility, sensory or cognitive needs. Omniverse libraries also enable developers to simulate and visualize the city digital twin using OpenUSD, so teams can iterate quickly and publish interactive experiences to end users.
At the same time, the project is developing a Citiverse integration toolkit designed to make it easier to connect city twins with other digital twin environments and public‑sector software, supporting a model that can be replicated across European cities.
The project brings together 12 partners from a variety of sectors across Europe and the project owner is the City of Gothenburg, Sweden. First tests are made on the city’s Event District, including major public events such as the Gothenburg Horse Show.
European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness is one of four Citiverse projects funded under the EU’s Digital Europe Programme, aiming to develop Europe’s capabilities in AI, cloud and data, by creating inclusive and interoperable digital infrastructures for cities.
Facts and figures about European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness
- The project started on 1st October 2025 and will end on 31st March 2027.
- Soft launch at Smart City Expo in Barcelona, November 2026.
Participants:
- Sweden: The City of Gothenburg (project owner), Lindholmen Science Park (technical coordinator), Göteborg & Co, Our Normal Association, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Kokokaka and Virtuell Design
- Finland: Younite AI
- Romania: Iceberg Plus and The Point Labs
- Bulgaria: GATE Institute
- Netherlands: University of Twente
- The following partners are associated with the project: Kungsbacka municipality, School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, YRGO, Digital Twin Cities Centre at Chalmers University of Technology.
- Third party partner: NVIDIA
Website: https://cu-project.eu
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
About Younite AI:
Younite is specialized in AI and 3D digital twins, with a strong background in design and software development. The company was founded in 2017 in Finland and has offices in Helsinki, Oulu and New York.
Learn more at https://younite.ai
Contact
Laura Olin
Chief of Staff
Younite AI Oy
nvidia@younite.ai
