Dr. Watson (fourth from the right) with other participants of the "QUAD Critical and Emerging Technology Forum," held at the University of Tokyo from Aug. 19-21, 2024.

Dr. Virginia B. Watson, from the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, was part of the U.S. delegation at the "QUAD Critical and Emerging Technology Forum," held at the University of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan, from Aug. 19-21, 2024. This meeting of representatives from the private and public sectors of each Quad state (Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S.) followed the inaugural event held in the U.S. in August 2023. The forum aimed to refine recommendations on how Quad cooperation in technology can be further advanced.

Dr. Watson served as moderator for one of the forum’s sessions, "Opportunities to Progress Domain Awareness,” and facilitator for one of three breakout groups on “Advancing Indo-Pacific Technology-related Infrastructure, Partnerships, and Narratives/Communications.” She was also a discussant on a panel that presented the forum’s findings to an audience of University of Tokyo faculty, students, diplomats, and the public on the final day of the event.

The Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA—USA) and the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST—University of Tokyo) co-organized the forum. Other partner institutions included the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, the Observer Research Foundation (India), and the National Security College (Australian National University).