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Aug 4, 2025
BlueWX Company Limited, a Tokyo-based corporation led by CEO Kaz Watanabe, has been selected for the Deep-Tech Startups Support Program (DTSU) implemented by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under Japanese national government. With the lead investor UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (Head office: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kosuke Ueda) as partner VC, BlueWX will further accelerate the development of aviation turbulence prediction systems and wind prediction systems using deep learning.
In recent years, with the progression of global warming, the risk of aircraft encountering turbulence has increased, and the number of reported accidents due to turbulence has also increased worldwide. The strength of turbulence is also on a worsening trend, and last year there was a fatal accident caused by turbulence. When an aircraft encounters turbulence, injuries to passengers and crew, damage to cargo and equipment, and flight delays and cancellations occur. Of course, various predictions are used to avoid turbulence, but traditional methods have their limitations in terms of accuracy.
Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 for the entire aviation industry. Towards this goal, airlines are taking various measures such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which however alone cannot solve this problem given cost of supply. Fundamentally, reducing fuel consumption is acutely demanded.
Theoretically, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption and increase economic efficiency by selecting the optimal route for wind direction and wind speed, but there are issues with the accuracy of the wind forecast data currently used, making it difficult to use for efficient route design.
Founded in July 2023 through an industry-academia collaboration between ANA and Keio University, BlueWX has been trying to develop a highly accurate turbulence forecast model using the latest AI and deep learning methodology.
The development of the predictive model began with deep learning for using actual turbulence data from the past 10 years. The model already achieved accuracy more than 2.7 times better than the existing prediction methods and proved its operational robustness through a trial operation with 2,500 pilots at ANA.
The turbulence forecast model continues to evolve in terms of accuracy and geographical coverage, with additional flight data from daily operations of airlines around the world. Further development continues in terms of temporal and spatial resolution.
In terms of wind prediction, BlueWX will begin developing a prediction model with global coverage based on the turbulence prediction model. As the entire aviation industry aims to achieve carbon neutrality by improving operational efficiency, it is becoming increasingly important to select routes that minimize fuel consumption. As many companies aim to develop and implement route optimization systems, highly accurate wind forecasts are considered an essential element to achieve the goal. BlueWX will develop a highly accurate wind speed/direction forecast model to meet this need.
With the support of the NEDO DTSU, BlueWX starts funding the above-mentioned development. Specifically, it will accelerate product development and sales network base by investing efficiently and effectively in the following three measures:
1 Strengthening acquisition of deep learning data: achieving high prediction accuracy and expanding products worldwide
2 Acquiring technical and sales personnel: ensuring the quality and quantity of development resources and refining and upgrading products
3 Building and developing data integration systems：expanding data supply infrastructure to customers and acquiring input data in real time
From the lead investor (UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd.):
BlueWX's product is not simply machine learning; it is built on science and technology cultivated at Keio University and other institutions with deep knowledge of meteorology and weather models. Its practicality has already been confirmed in trials during actual flight operations, demonstrating superiority over existing predictions.
BlueWX's highly original and effective product is expected to be used widely, starting in Japan and then globally. NEDO support will accelerate the development of a worldwide model, which is essential for that global expansion. We will continue to support BlueWX in the hope that it will grow to one of the Japanese unicorn companies that operate on a global stage.
About NEDO DTSU
NEDO implements the DTSU program to support R&D and growth for deep-tech startups that leverage on innovative technologies to solve socio-economic issues, e.g. carbon neutral, resource circulation, economic security, that need to be addressed nationally or globally, when they require long-term R&D and large-scale funding to establish the technology, commercialize it, and implement it in society, and are high-risk. The DTSU program consists of three phases: STS (Seed-stage Technology-based Startups: practical R&D at early stage), PCA (Product Commercialization Alliance: practical R&D at later stage), and DMP (Demonstration development for Mass Production).
About BlueWX Co.,Ltd.
Established: July 2023
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Representative: Kazunari Watanabe, President and CEO
URL：https://www.bluewx.co.jp/en
Public Relations: contact@bluewx.co.jp