Frequently Asked Questions
A NATO-accredited Centre of Excellence (COE) is a multi-nationally or nationally established and sponsored entity, which offers recognised expertise and experience within a defined subject matter area to the benefit of the Alliance within the four pillars of NATO's COE programme.
Although not part of the NATO Command Structure or of other NATO entities, COEs form part of the wider framework that contributes to the functioning of the Alliance. Allied Command Transformation (ACT) has overall responsibility for COE coordination, including establishment, accreditation and periodic assessments.
The Underwater Centre of Excellence (Underwater COE) will be a multinational military organisation dedicated to enhancing NATO's understanding of the underwater operating environment.
The Centre will bring together expertise from military, scientific, academic and industrial communities, acting as a hub connecting NATO bodies, Allied Nations, Partner Nations and a wide network of stakeholders.
Today's underwater environment is becoming more complex, congested and contested. New autonomous technologies and unmanned systems have opened access to the seabed for a wide range of actors, from state competitors to private industries. This evolution creates both opportunities and risks: critical infrastructures such as energy pipelines and communication cables must be protected from potential threats.
NATO recognises the need for a dedicated centre to deepen and expand its understanding of the underwater dimension, enhance the security of critical underwater infrastructure, and achieve comprehensive underwater situational awareness. The Underwater COE will address these challenges through a holistic approach that no existing NATO entity currently provides.
The Underwater COE acts as a hub among NATO bodies, Allies, other relevant Centres of Excellence, Partner Nations and other non-NATO entities including International Organisations, industry, research centres and academia.
Its mission is to support the development of operational capability related to the underwater operating environment as well as doctrine, concepts, standards and procedures.
Through associated education, training, analysis and Lessons Learned, the Centre enables NATO and Allies to enhance their ability to operate within and control the underwater operating environment.
The Underwater COE is located in La Spezia, on the Ligurian coast of Italy, within a unique military compound that brings together leading maritime research and experimentation institutions: the NATO Science and Technology Organization Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation - NATO STO CMRE, the PNS -"Polo Nazionale della dimensione Subacquea" (National Underwater Dimension Hub) and the CSSN - Italian Navy's Naval Support and Experimentation Centre (Centro di Supporto e Sperimentazione Navale).
This strategic co-location enables close collaboration with leading research and experimentation facilities, fostering innovation and accelerating the transition from scientific research to operational capabilities.
The Underwater COE is established and operated through the commitment of its Sponsoring Nations.
Italy 🇮🇹 — Framework Nation
Italy hosts the Centre in La Spezia, provides the Director, infrastructure and administrative support and chairs the Steering Committee.
Greece 🇬🇷 — Sponsoring Nation
Greece contributes personnel and resources to the Centre's operations and participates in the Steering Committee.
The Underwater Centre of Excellence (COE) will support NATO's effort to understand, innovate and strengthen operations in the underwater operating environment.
The Centre's work will be structured around three Lines of Effort (LoEs), each focusing on a specific aspect of underwater capability and cooperation. Through them, the Centre will deliver products and services to NATO, Allies and Partners across the four NATO COE pillars.
Lines of Effort (LoEs)
- Underwater Capability Development
- Analysis, Education & Training
- Framework & Guidance
The Underwater COE is currently in its accreditation phase.
The year 2026 marks the final steps toward full accreditation: signing key agreements, completing NATO's formal assessment process and the expected recognition by the North Atlantic Council as a NATO Centre of Excellence, followed by the signing of the Functional MOU establishing the Centre's relationship with NATO.
NATO Centres of Excellence cover a wide variety of areas, including cyber defence, military medicine, energy security, defence against terrorism, cold weather operations, counter-IED, climate change and security, and space.
Within the maritime domain, the Underwater COE will liaise and coordinate efforts with other NATO-accredited Centres of Excellence, including:
- Combined Joint Operations from the Sea (CJOS) COE
- Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (CSW) COE
- Maritime Geospatial, Meteorological and Oceanographic (MGEOMETOC) COE
- Maritime Security (MARSEC) COE
- Naval Mine Warfare (NMW) COE
The Centre is designed to avoid duplications and promote synergies within the Alliance, focusing specifically on the underwater operating environment while maintaining liaison relationships with these and other relevant COEs.