SAS Named to Fast Company's 2026 Next Big Things in Tech List for Digital Twin Technology

CARY, N.C., Oct. 6, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- SAS, a global leader in data and AI, has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the 2026 Next Big Things in Tech. The company’s innovative digital twin technology, which helps ensure the reliable flow of sterilized surgical instruments, has earned SAS a spot in the Applied AI category of the prestigious list.

SAS’s partnership with Sterilcentral, Denmark’s largest medical sterilization provider, showcases the potential of digital twins in transforming healthcare operations. Sterilcentral’s cutting-edge, fully automated sterilization facility supports approximately 1,000 surgeries each day across seven hospitals in Denmark’s capital region. If the facility goes offline, the impact extends far beyond operational delays, potentially causing surgeries across the region to come to a standstill.

To better understand and optimize this mission-critical operation, Sterilcentral turned to SAS. SAS built a digital twin of key parts of the Herlev facility, where thousands of instruments move through washing, drying, packaging, and delivery each day. The 3D model, enriched with real-world data and advanced analytics, allowed the team to find and resolve disruptions in the sterilization process. The same environment was also used to train computer vision models using synthetic data, helping ensure workers wear protective gear correctly to reduce the risk of contamination.

The digital twin technology built on SAS® Viya® and enhanced with immersive 3D environments from Epic Games' Unreal Engine combines advanced analytics, machine learning, simulation, and AI. By ingesting real-time data and generating robust synthetic data sets, these digital twins allow teams to run "what if" scenarios, identify bottlenecks, and improve performance without disrupting live systems.

Fast Company’s recognition of SAS in the Next Big Things in Tech list highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to innovate and drive meaningful impact through its technology solutions. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, SAS’s digital twin technology is poised to play a significant role in ensuring the reliable and efficient flow of critical medical supplies.

The complete Fast Company 2026 Next Big Things in Tech list can be found on the publication’s website.