How Mature Are the Tools Powering the European Digital Twin Ocean?
As the EDITO-Model Lab approaches its conclusion in December 2025, we look at the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) reached across key components that our project developed for the European Digital Twin Ocean (European DTO), namely the Core Model Suite, the Virtual Ocean Model Lab, the Focus Applications, and the What-If Scenarios.
These milestones illustrate how far the project has progressed in transforming advanced ocean numerical modelling technologies into accessible, interoperable, and user-ready tools that contribute directly to the construction of the European DTO.
Why TRLs matter for a digital ocean
The TRL scale provides a common language for measuring the maturity of technologies, guiding their evolution from early research to full operational use.
Within EDITO-Model Lab, TRLs have been adapted to reflect the specific context of the European DTO, where the goal is not only scientific performance, but also integration, usability, and reproducibility within a shared digital environment.
For EDITO-Model Lab, the TRL assessment is based on the following key criteria:
- TRL 5: Core codes and configurations validated in relevant environments
- TRL 6: Components documented with tutorials and accessible datasets
- TRL 7: Components integrated into demonstrator applications with functional interfaces
- TRL 8: Fully tested, optimised, and ready for use by external intermediate users
All TRL assessments refer to the components as deployed and qualified within the EDITO Platform, rather than their institutional operational status elsewhere.
From research to demonstration: EDITO-Model Lab TRL status in November 2025
Core Model Suite – Validated and Demonstrated
The Core Model Suite, comprising numerical ocean models, emulators, and specialised tools, has achieved significant maturity:
- Ocean models such as NEMO, HBMos, WW3, SHYFEM-MPI, Delft3D FM and SCHISM now range between TRL 6 and 8. All configurations have been validated, several demonstrated on the EDITO Platform, and many integrated within FAs or WiS.
- Deep Differentiable Emulators (DDEs) including 4DVarNet-turbidity, GLONET and OceanBench are at TRL 6–8, enabling on-demand simulations via notebook applications or near-real-time production.
- Additional modules such as MEDSLIK-II, VISIR-2 and OpenDrift are at TRL 8, already supporting operational FAs and having been showcased in live demonstrations.
All Core Model Suite components are integrated within the EDITO Platform, accompanied by stable interfaces, documentation, and reference datasets. A dedicated training section provides tutorials, configuration guidance and containerised applications, allowing users to reproduce workflows and access qualified outputs from advanced models.
User-ready prototypes: Focus Applications and What-If Scenarios
The Focus Applications (FAs) are operational prototypes, well-documented, and demonstrated under realistic use-case conditions. They target researchers, data scientists, and numerical modellers (who are skilled with skills on data science, programming and data visualisation) to build EDITO workflows for specific analyses.
EDITO-Model Lab successfully created FAs for fight marine pollution, optimise ship routing and enhance marine biodiversity protection. These applications have reached TRL 8, being part of the project’s most advanced integration level. Reusable integration templates and process APIs now replace custom configurations,
The What-If Scenarios (WiS) follow up on the FAs and provide data visualisation and simulation tools for end users, like policymakers, innovators, local authorities, companies and citizens (who want to understand better, for example, what can happen if specific policies and actions are implemented), to access reproducible indicators supporting marine policy, management, and response.
Also at TRL 8, the EDITO-Model Lab WiS allow non-technical users to explore ocean dynamics and test alternative management actions through interactive simulation interfaces.
Both FAs and WiS demonstrate how the EDITO Platform reduces the complexity and time required to generate decision-relevant information.
In the EDITO-Model Lab project, WP2 created the AI-based emulators for ocean modelling and forecasting. WP3 merged all the numerical models that power the European DTO. WP4 created the Core Model Suite. WP5 developed the Virtual Ocean Lab (EDITO Platform). WP6 was responsible for the FAs. WP7 led the WiS.
The EDITO environment, a unified framework
Integrating the EDITO Platform with the Virtual Ocean Model Lab (VOML), the EDITO Environment provides a consolidated digital infrastructure for numerical model experimentation and user engagement. It offers:
- Seamless access to cloud and EuroHPC computing through scalable systems, such as Autosubmit
- Interactive tools (including the SURF interface) enabling users to create, modify and execute workflows with minimal technical barriers
- Automated pipelines that support the development, deployment and sharing of applications directly in a pre-operational environment
These elements have been qualified, extensively tested, and are now ready to support external engagement, which corresponds to TRL 8.
"From the very start of EDITO-Model Lab, the goal was to bring certain applications to a high TRL, demonstrating feasibility, domain expertise, robustness, and the relevance of the ocean numerical models and simulation tools for operational use.
Throughout the project, interactions with intermediate users (focused on developing and sharing modelling tools) and with end users (addressing specific needs) were key to adapting models, data, and tools accordingly.
Today, the most advanced modules enable simulations of ocean pollution, marine litter drift, and maritime shipping routing. Moreover, the extensive set of tools deployed and reusable on the EDITO platform promises significant uptake in the next phase of EDITO."
Yann Drillet
Project Coordinator of EDITO-Model Lab
Mercator Ocean International
Bridging Science and Application
EDITO-Model Lab has bridged the gap between expert-only numerical modelling environments and open, user-driven digital tools. By standardising workflows and providing user-friendly interfaces, the project has made high-end numerical modelling accessible to a wider community of scientists, analysts, and innovators.
The EDITO-Model Lab Hackathon that took place in late October 2025 in Toulouse was a key step in the diverse user engagement activities carried by the project. The event demonstrated the readiness of various EDITO-Model Lab tools. Thirteen international teams of external users were able to design and deploy new FAs from scratch on the EDITO Platform in less than three days, clearing demonstrating that the system is ready and mature enough for external users.
Next Steps Before December 2025
In the final two months of the project, the consortium will:
- Finalise TRL 8 qualification for remaining components and documentation
- Continue engagement with intermediate users to refine workflows based on their feedback
- Consolidate training resources and tutorials to support new adopters
- Facilitate the handover of validated assets to the follow-up EDITO2 project, ensuring long-term continuity
“As the EDITO-Model Lab concludes, its greatest strength lies in the collective commitment of a dedicated consortium united around Mercator Ocean International. This collaboration reflects Mercator’s leadership and its ability to bring together a dynamic, trusted community that advances science and innovation together. Our long-standing partners - many by our side for over three decades - continue to evolve with us, demonstrating the cohesion and adaptability that define our shared vision.
This collective groundwork now sets the stage for the next phase, EDITO2, which will further expand capabilities and strengthen engagement across the European and global community.
The Digital Ocean Forum 2025 will be a key milestone to celebrate our achievements and chart the course for the future of the European Digital Twin Ocean.”
Pierre Bahurel
Director General
Mercator Ocean International
Looking ahead: from EDITO-Model Lab to an operational European DTO
The outcomes of EDITO-Model Lab will directly inform the operationalisation phase of the European DTO, now under the coordination of EDITO 2. By 2030, the European DTO is expected to serve as a global benchmark for digital ocean solutions, connecting science, policy and society through open, interoperable, and co-developed technologies.
As EDITO-Model Lab enters its closing phase, its legacy is already visible. The project produced a functional, tested and open-access digital environment where numerical models, ocean data, and very diverse users converge to deliver actionable knowledge for the ocean.
Follow the European DTO on LinkedIn and X for the final updates of EDITO-Model Lab while we transition into the next stage with EDITO 2.
- Portability and interoperability of numerical models and simulation techniques
- Optimisation and adaptation to new and future computing platforms
- Coupling, interaction and hybridisation between different numerical models and Machine Learning components to represent ocean physics, biogeochemistry, biology and ecology
- Flexibility in use, configuration design and simulations to suit applications
- Virtual Ocean Model Lab is a co-development platform to connect developers of various models, users willing to produce simulations using AI and ML, and associated infrastructure providing access to different computing (HPC, CLOUD) and data storage and dissemination resources (data lake)
- Usage examples and user support for Focus Applications and What-if Scenarios
