Aquatech Innovation Forum programme in Amsterdam nears completion

The first Aquatech Innovation Forum set for Monday 4 November is nearing completion, with 30 speakers, including 15 water utilities, confirmed to speak and two ‘Unconferenced’ sessions where the agenda and speakers rise from the audience, guarantee disruption and the Spanish company GoAigua signed as ‘Headline Sponsor’

With more than four months to go until its inaugural event, Aquatech has announced that 80 percent of the conference programme for the Innovation Forum is now complete.

The Aquatech Innovation Forum will take place on Monday November 4th 2019 as part of the Amsterdam International Water Week.

A new addition to 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);
• Gothenborg City (Sweden);
• Washington Suburban Sanitary Comission (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. Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), 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. This will then be followed by a second unplanned session, led by Sarni and which will delve 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 is pleased to confirm that five organisations have been secured 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, including Sensus as the ‘Great Wall’ sponsor, Acciona Agua as the ‘Breakfast Sponsor’ and DuPont Water Solutions as the ‘Wi-Fi sponsor’.

Spanish solutions provider GoAigua has also been confirmed as the ‘Headline Sponsor’, with the theme of digitalisation fitting perfectly within the company’s activities.

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 has been delivering smart water solutions 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 25,000 water professionals 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 in regards to 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 really 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.”

The Aquatech Innovation Forum will take place on Monday November 4th 2019 as part of the Amsterdam International Water Week.

For more information visit www.aquatechtrade.com/innovation-forum/