A total of 30 speakers, including 15 water utilities, have confirmed to speak in the inaugural event…
Spanish company GoAigua signed as Headline Sponsor
With more than four months to go until its inaugural event, Aquatech is pleased to announce that 80 per cent of the conference programme for the Innovation Forum is now complete.
A new development for the Aquatech Global Events brand, the one-day Forum now has 30 speakers confirmed, including 15 utilities, from over 15 countries globally.
Water utilities confirmed to speak include: Aarhus Vand (Denmark); Anglian Water (UK); Emschergenossenschaft (Germany); Gothenburg City (Sweden); Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (US); Vitens (Netherlands) & Coliban Water (Australia).
Taking place on Monday November 4, ahead of the well established Aquatech Amsterdam exhibition, the tagline for the Innovation Forum is 'Mastering Water's Digital Transformation'.
The ambition is to showcase examples of digitalisation in the global water market and create a platform where the entire water cycle can openly share examples, both successes and failures.
Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, autonomous water treatment, solution interoperability, and smart cities and the role of Water 4.0 will be discussed throughout the day.
Leading with Unconferenced content
Setting out to disrupt the traditional conference model, the Innovation Forum will include two 'Unconferenced’ sessions, with no planned agenda or speaker list.
The idea is that the conference agenda is put into the hands of the audience in a free-flowing, impromptu discussion.
Two leading moderators have been secured to host these sessions: Will Sarni, founder and CEO of Water Foundry and Andrew Walker, CEO of BlueGold Marketing.
The first Unconferenced session, led by Walker, will focus on broader innovation across the water and wastewater industries. A second unplanned session will follow, led by Sarni to dive deeper into the digital world.
Another notable development is an afternoon 'Data Dive' workshop, led by data scientist Peter Prevos from utility Coliban Water in Australia.
Partner and sponsor support
As well as the conference development, Aquatech has secured five organisations as supporting partners: International Water Association (IWA), ICT4Water, Bluefield Research, Water Alliance and the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN).
So far four companies have also confirmed sponsorship of the event.
Spanish solutions provider GoAigua has been confirmed as the 'Headline Sponsor', with the theme of digitalisation fitting perfectly within the company's activities.
Other sponsors include Sensus, a Xylem brand, as the 'Great Wall' sponsor, Acciona Agua as the 'Breakfast Sponsor' and DuPont Water Solutions as the 'Wi-Fi sponsor'.
Jaime Barba Sevillano, CEO of GoAigua, said: “We’re pleased to be the headline sponsor of the inaugural Innovation Forum. This type of event is exactly what the industry needs to bring together some of the world’s top water utilities. GoAigua’s solutions have been delivery smart water services for over a decade to water utilities globally. We’re looking forward to taking part in the open discussions about digitalisation and the future of water supply.”
Quenching the digital appetite
The Innovation Forum will be the third piece of the Aquatech puzzle and completes the trifecta of events taking place in the same week: the Aquatech Innovation Forum, Aquatech Innovation Award ceremony and large scale, water-focused exhibition with over 23,000 visitors expected.
Tom Freyberg, content director of Aquatech Global Events, said: “The progress we’ve made so far with the event proves that the focus of innovation, specifically digitalisation in the water market, is really on point. There’s a real appetite among the water sector for more information and practical examples where data-driven solutions can improve water supply.
“We want to shake things up with the Forum, giving people an open, engaging platform where the speakers and audience change places fluidly. We want to create a carnival-type atmosphere and experience for water professionals to learn, engage and ultimately, enjoy the whole experience.”
