BlueWX Secures NEDO Funding for Advanced Weather Forecasting Solutions

BlueWX Inc., headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, has been selected as a recipient of the grant from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under the Deep Tech Startup Support Program. Founded in July 2023 through a collaboration between the ANA Group and Keio University, BlueWX aims to enhance aviation safety and economic efficiency while striving towards carbon neutrality through high-precision weather forecasting.

Addressing Critical Challenges in Aviation

As climate change continues to progress, the risk of aircraft encountering turbulence has increased significantly, leading to a rise in turbulence-related incidents globally. Turbulence not only poses risks to passengers and crew, causing injuries and damage to cargo and equipment, but also results in flight delays and cancellations. Traditional methods for predicting turbulence have faced limitations, prompting a need for more advanced solutions.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set an ambitious goal for the aviation industry to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. While various measures are being explored by airline companies, the anticipated reduction in costs for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is expected to take time. Currently, enhancing operational fuel efficiency has become an urgent challenge. Theoretically, optimizing flight routes based on wind direction and speed can minimize fuel consumption, but existing weather prediction data lacks the accuracy needed for effective route planning.

Innovative Solutions Offered by BlueWX

With a strong commitment to using AI-driven weather prediction models, BlueWX has made remarkable strides in developing an effective turbulence prediction system. The company has conducted deep learning analysis on a decade's worth of turbulence data, achieving approximately 2.7 times greater accuracy compared to existing prediction methods. Following trials involving around 2,500 pilots, BlueWX has refined its forecasting model with additional data sourced from airlines worldwide. Future challenges include scaling these models globally and improving temporal resolution in forecasting.

BlueWX is also embarking on the development of a wind prediction model, leveraging the methodologies refined through turbulence prediction. As the aviation industry pushes towards operational efficiency and carbon neutrality, the selection of fuel-efficient flight paths is increasingly pivotal. Accurate wind predictions are crucial inputs for numerous companies aiming to optimize flight routes. BlueWX is committed to developing highly precise wind speed and direction forecasting models to meet this growing demand.

Leveraging NEDO Grant for Development

Receiving the NEDO DTSU grant allows BlueWX to address its development challenges effectively and efficiently. The funding will be strategically invested in three key areas:

1. Enhancement of Deep Learning Data Acquisition: Improving prediction accuracy and expanding products worldwide.
2. Securing Technical and Sales Talent: Ensuring the quality and quantity of development resources for refining and advancing products.
3. Building a Data Coordination System: Enhancing infrastructure for supplying data to customers and improving real-time data acquisition capabilities.

Comments from Lead Investor

The lead investor, Tokyo University Co-Creation Platform Development Inc., emphasized that BlueWX’s products are not merely based on machine learning. They stem from a deep understanding of meteorology and meteorological modeling, cultivated at reputable institutions like Keio University. The practical utility of their product is already validated through trial operations in actual airline operations, demonstrating superior performance over existing predictions.

The unique and effective nature of BlueWX’s offerings indicates that the company is poised for wider global adoption, starting from Japan. The grant is instrumental in accelerating the development of global models crucial for BlueWX’s aspiration to grow into a unicorn enterprise on the world stage.

About NEDO's DTSU Initiative

NEDO's DTSU program supports the development of innovative technologies that tackle significant economic and societal challenges, such as carbon neutrality, resource recycling, and economic security. This initiative aims to assist deep tech startups in advancing practical research and mass production validation across three phases: STS (preliminary practical research and development), PCA (subsequent practical research and development), and DMP (mass production validation).

Company Overview: BlueWX

Founded in July 2023, BlueWX specializes in weather analysis and forecasting, developing strategies based on its forecasts. The company is located in Minato, Tokyo, and is led by CEO Kazunari Watanabe.

For further inquiries, please contact:
BlueWX Public Relations (mail: [email protected])