NATO Leads €12 Mn Funding of Underwater Robotics Startup to Protect 160,000km of Seafloor Networks

In a decisive move to bolster subsea infrastructure security, the military alliance NATO, through its NATO Innovation Fund, has led €12 million financing round of Norway-based startup Kongsberg Ferrotech, whose innovative underwater robotics technology is poised to redefine pipeline maintenance and vessel repairs on the ocean floor.

The robot, developed to operate in extreme underwater conditions, creates a “dry habitat” that enables safe inspections and repairs—eliminating the need for human divers or disruptive production shutdowns. This tech isn't just theoretical; it's currently in action off the coast of Abu Dhabi, supporting the oil and gas sector by reducing operational emissions and costs.

Strategic Implications:

With over 160,000 kilometers of subsea pipelines crisscrossing the globe, the risk to vital infrastructure has drawn heightened attention—especially after incidents like the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage. NATO’s investment signals a growing commitment to protect these networks from geopolitical threats, cyber interference, and physical disruption.

Naval Benefits:

Experts believe this tech could also revolutionize naval logistics by allowing vessel maintenance directly at sea. “Repairing warships without docking could extend fleet lifespans and enhance readiness,” says a NATO spokesperson familiar with the deal.

Beyond Borders:

The move reflects a broader trend in global defense: combining robotics, AI, and clean tech to create agile, resilient infrastructure solutions in a rapidly evolving security landscape.

As nations deepen their investments in digital and physical infrastructure protection, underwater robots like those from Kongsberg Ferrotech may soon be as common in marine defense as satellites are in the sky.

The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is a €1 billion multi-sovereign venture capital fund launched in 2023 by 24 NATO member countries. The fund aims to invest in deep tech startups that enhance the Alliance’s long-term security, resilience, and technological edge.

Late last month, the NATO Innovation Fund and Earlybird led a $35 million Series A round in Portal Biotech, a pioneering biotechnology company headquartered in London. The NATO Innovation Fund invested in Portal Biotech because its protein sequencing platform has the potential to unlock the next frontier of biological data, critical for biosecurity and healthcare resilience.

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a political and military alliance formed in 1949 to ensure the collective defense of its member countries—primarily from North America and Europe. Its guiding principle is that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, as outlined in Article 5 of its founding treaty. Headquartered in Brussels, NATO works to maintain global peace and stability by coordinating defense strategies, conducting joint military operations, and addressing modern threats like cyberattacks, terrorism, and infrastructure sabotage.