A National Resource for Advanced Undersea Testing, Innovation, and Collaboration

Underwater with bubbles floating to surface

A National Resource for Advanced Undersea Testing, Innovation, and Collaboration

Speed to Impact at Sea

Testing marine technologies at sea is expensive and difficult. Conducting in-water testing prior to launching costly at-sea experiments radically reduces risk, and sharing access to resources reduces costs and increases agility. MITRE’s BlueTech Lab and capabilities help the community and the nation accelerate new solutions for national security and climate resiliency.

Together, we are enabling greater understanding of the world’s oceans. 

Featuring the longest and one of the largest tanks in the Northeast U.S. 

620,000+ 

Gallon Capacity

106′

Long

40′

Wide

19’+ 

Deep

What We Do

About the BlueTech Lab

MITRE’s BlueTech Lab is a testing facility located in Bedford, Massachusetts that enables the regional BlueTech innovation community to rapidly prototype new technology quickly and safely.

Featuring one of the largest and longest tanks in the region (106’ x 40’ x 19’7″), with a capacity of 621,000 gallons—the BlueTech Lab’s test tank accommodates the use of unmanned undersea and surface vehicles in a large, controlled space and provides the ability to test communication and acoustic sensing systems at lower transmission frequencies and larger signal pulse-widths than other facilities.

MITRE’s BlueTech Lab test tank and enhanced lab facility are planned to open this fall.

A underwater test facility

Unlocking the Ocean’s Mysteries

BlueTech Lab Accelerates Maritime Innovation

Latest News & Events

Photo of the MITRE BlueTech pool without water in it. The MITRE logo appears on the bottom of the pool.
October 20, 2023
Media Coverage

How a big underground tank in Bedford could help boost state’s ‘blue tech’ economy

MITRE is set to open a massive underwater testing facility — 20 miles from the sea.

A underwater test facility

June 9, 2023

News Release

MITRE Launches New BlueNERVE Network to Connect Maritime Researchers Across the Country

Improved data access and real-time insights from MITRE’s BlueTech lab and partner labs will accelerate maritime innovation.

June 8, 2023

Livestream Event

Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll to Announce State Award in BlueTech

Governor Maura T. Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced a state award to support BlueTech innovation and workforce development.

BlueNERVE Network

MITRE’s NERVE network is a shared nation-spanning network for a wide range of technical activity, connecting MITRE’s labs to partners.  BlueNERVE, a key offshoot of MITRE’s NERVE network, will connect physical maritime innovation labs and provide its unique institutional capabilities and infrastructure for real-time testing and collaboration across organizations. The BlueNERVE network will increase collaboration, accelerate new technology development, and foster innovation throughout the BlueTech ecosystem furthering our advancement of economic, climate, and national security priorities.

We are expanding BlueNerve nodes nationally and internationally. If you are interested in connecting your organization, please reach out to bluetech@mitre.org.

BlueTech Careers

  • ​Interested in joining our team? View our current list of BlueTech opportunities HERE
  • Are you a student and interested in an internship? View our current list of intern opportunities HERE
BlueTech Groundbreaking Partners