I am pleased to invite you to discover in this report the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation’s (CMRE) priorities and key activities in 2025. The Centre covers a unique position within the Science & Technology Organization (STO) and NATO, ensuring that scientific innovation remains closely aligned with real operational challenges, while integrating scientific excellence with direct engagement with NATO Commands, such as the NATO Headquarters, Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM); but also Allied members and partners.

As NATO Chief Scientist, it was a great honour to officially visit the CMRE during one of our Scientific Technical Committees Panel Business Meetings in October 2025 – the SET STC. The visit to the Centre, as well as the chance to talk with its highly skilled scientists, engineers, technicians and other CMRE support personal, allowed me to witness their dedication and passion for their work. Clearly, CMRE is a valuable connection with world-class research and real-life experimentation, that extends from the Mediterranean to the Arctic.

CMRE continues to demonstrate its ability to address emerging challenges through its pioneering work. A cornerstone of the Centre’s contribution to NATO’s 2030 initiative is its research on quantum technologies. As emerging and disruptive technologies are reshaping our security environment, CMRE plays a vital role with its initiatives. By advancing underwater quantum key distribution, exploring assisted navigation without GPS and investigating on quantum-tailored algorithms and their ability to improve motion, fluid dynamics and environmental prediction, CMRE is further shaping NATO’s path into the next technological frontier.

But La Spezia does not stop at pure research. In fact, the Centre developed the “Mainsail” software, a cutting-edge data tool to monitor critical undersea infrastructures, currently used by MARCOM. Moreover, as demonstrated by its contribution to the CWIX25 exercise, CMRE served as a core data-sharing hub that enabled real time communication between unmanned systems from across NATO and Partner Nations. Through the use of Standardization Agreements (STANAGs), the direct integration of data from Task Force X and the NATO Research Vessel Alliance in the Baltic Sea enabled mission-critical information to be shared seamlessly across platforms, regardless of their origin or manufacturer. This demonstrates that the centre is not only talking about multi-domain operations (MDO) but actually demonstrating the effect of MDO.

Finally, CMRE supports NATO by delivering trainings to equip defence and security professionals. Between September and October 2025, the Centre hosted the first edition of the NATO Climate Change and Security course, co-developed in close collaboration with the NATO International Staff, the NATO International Military Staff – Policy & Capabilities Division –, and the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE). It presented a wonderful opportunity to improve knowledge on the intersection between climate change and security and increase preparedness for security challenges posed by climate change.

The work at CMRE within the STO ensures that NATO remains agile, forward-looking and capable of anticipating and responding emerging challenges. I am confident the Centre will continue to have a strong impact in shaping maritime security and MDO and I invite you to support its activities in the new year.