Liu (2026), explores how digital twins can enhance spatial, social, and ecological functions in rural regional systems. The term “digital twins” was first used by Hernández and Hernández in1997 but it was not formally defined. Since then, it has been adopted across multiple industries. According to Cranford (2023) is a virtual representation of a physical object or process and it is believed to have been first applied in the mining industry in 2009 as the Common Mine Model (Farrelly and Davies, 2021). “Digital twins operate as sophisticated virtual models, whereas AI technologies serve as the backbone of the models that enhance their functionalities and applications” (Nobahar et al. 2024). AI and digital twins enhance mining efficiency and sustainability by using critical data for simulation, prediction, and optimization, enabling faster, more accurate, and environmentally conscious decisions (Nobahar et al. 2024). Digital twin technology can enhance all mining project phases, improving and measuring ESG factors across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Its business models act as a balanced scorecard, fully replicating system behavior and performance beyond traditional BSCs (Warren, 2025). Besides taking advantage of these new opportunities offered by the most innovative technologies, innovations in the social sphere are also necessary. Social innovation studies in mining are limited. Chipangamate et al. (2023) show how companies build community resilience and promote social learning, defining social innovation as new practices that better meet needs. Transformative social innovation challenges institutions, reshapes social relations, and addresses inadequate public services. In Southern Africa’s mining industry, e.g., it is expected to drive sustainable development and and empower society through cross-sector collaboration. In South Africa, Impact Catalyst, founded by Anglo American and other institutions, develops mechanisms for large-scale socio-economic development through public-private partnerships in mining communities. Chipangamate et al. (2023) note that these initiatives leverage cross-sector collaboration and aim for impact beyond individual participants, illustrating social innovation’s potential to transform institutions, cultural patterns, and social practices. A specific practical approach to social innovation is the so-called social innovation labs. Schrammel & Marschalek (2024) note that Zaid Hassan introduced the term “social labs” in 2014 and defined it as a method that brings together diverse stakeholders from different sectors to co-create innovative and sustainable solutions. As Gorelova et al. (2024) state, the Smart Territories (ST) approach focus on population quality of life and sustainable development through digital technologies and innovation. These authors identify key aspects of ST, including boundaries, dimensions, and links to the smart city concept. Small administrative units (townships, towns, municipalities, villages) offer the most precise definition, as their smaller size allows more efficient communication with local administrations. They also consider the nine dimensions of the model proposed by Van der Hoogen et al. (2019) as components of a ST: smart economy, smart technology and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, smart environment, smart mobility, smart people, smart governance, smart living, smart organization, and smart policy. The main difference is that Smart 133
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