Kiel sets the course for the future of naval and underwater technologies

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The 50th European Defence Agency (EDA) Capability Technology Group (CapTech) Maritime meeting took place in Kiel, Germany, one of Europe’s leading hubs for research and innovation in the maritime domain, bringing together experts from Member States, industry, universities, and research centres.

Italy participated in the meeting, held from 21 to 23 April, with a delegation from the National Naval Armaments Directorate, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening national capabilities through technical, operational, industrial, and scientific expertise. This commitment enables Italy to actively contribute to the definition of European priorities in the maritime domain, in line with national operational requirements and Defence research objectives.

The meeting covered several topics, including the assessment of the progress of research projects, both ongoing and under development, co-financed by the Member States; the analysis of new initiatives related to unmanned systems, the underwater domain, the protection of critical infrastructure, and maritime surveillance; as well as the enhancement of the strategic agenda for research and innovation in the maritime domain. Discussions also included the definition of Technology Building Blocks, which provide the technological focus guiding activities and research priorities within CapTech Maritime.

The outcome of the meeting highlighted Italy’s pivotal role in European cooperation on naval and underwater technological research, underscoring its ability to contribute to the development of innovative solutions and to promote a European Defence governance framework that is interoperable and driven by operational needs.