On 29 May 2025, BlueTech Forum touched down in Tokyo for the first time in its history. Hosted at Ireland House, the Tokyo edition of our Unplugged series offered a focused, invitation-only gathering designed to foster strategic dialogue around the future of water innovation — and marked a meaningful new chapter in our global journey.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from the Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, setting the tone for a day rooted in partnership, curiosity, and collaborative spirit. In the audience: senior representatives from some of Japan’s most iconic and globally respected industrial brands, joined by innovators, researchers, and BlueTech partners from around the world.
The centrepiece of the day was a keynote by Paul O’Callaghan, CEO of BlueTech Research and author of The Dynamics of Water Innovation. His talk explored the 12–15 year trajectory it typically takes for water technologies to move from early adoption to mainstream diffusion — and how capital efficiency, breakthrough pathways, and market dynamics shape that journey. The presentation was simultaneously interpreted in Japanese, ensuring inclusive access for all attendees.
Paul illustrated these insights through the WaTA Model (Water Technology Adoption), case studies across sludge and PFAS treatment, and innovation types ranging from sustaining to radically disruptive. The message was clear: unlocking progress in the water sector requires more than technology — it demands systems thinking, time-tested patience, and cross-sector alignment.
Building on the keynote, participants engaged in three rotating roundtables, each designed to apply the themes of the keynote to real-world contexts:
Corporate Water Stewardship: How global brands are using tools like Aqueduct, WAVE, and Waterplan to measure risk, set replenishment targets, and move toward water-positive strategies.
PFAS Destruction Technologies: A landscape view of the latest developments in PFAS treatment and destruction — including thermal, chemical, and plasma-based approaches, and where each sits along the adoption curve.
Innovation Typologies & Market Adoption: A deeper dive into MBRs, granular activated sludge, and other landmark innovations that highlight the different pathways and paces of adoption in water technology.
Facilitated by BlueTech’s expert team, these sessions enabled thoughtful dialogue in small groups and high engagement across the board.
The day concluded with a private screening of Our Blue World — the award-winning documentary produced by the Brave Blue World Foundation — followed by a book signing of The Dynamics of Water Innovation. Each participant received a copy, and many stayed behind to speak directly with Paul and the team about the ideas it sparked.
On the day prior, a select group of attendees joined us for a private visit to Kurita’s Innovation Hub in Akishima — a rare opportunity to explore Japan’s cutting-edge technology development in water treatment and sustainability. The site tour offered a hands-on look at some of the R&D facilities and pilot-scale testing platforms shaping the future of the industry.
BlueTech Forum Unplugged Japan was made possible thanks to the exceptional partnership of Kurita, Enterprise Ireland, and the Embassy of Ireland in Japan. Their hospitality and commitment to fostering global water dialogue set the tone for what was an unforgettable event.
This edition of Unplugged may have been smaller in size, but its impact was profound — proof that meaningful conversations happen when we create the space to listen, reflect, and connect.
As we continue our Unplugged series around the world, we look ahead to our flagship gathering: BlueTech Forum 2026 – Vancouver.
