ICP-LLM: Transforming Intelligence Collection Planning at the Speed of Relevance

On 03 November 2025, the Intelligence Collection Plan – Large Language Model (ICP-LLM) will officially be launched. Developed through the close cooperation of the Northern Business School (NBS), Strukturierte Analyse Deutschland, and the Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE), this innovative tool will be freely available for download via the NBS website.

Why the ICP-LLM matters

Building an Intelligence Collection Plan (ICP) is one of the most critical yet labor-intensive steps in any operational analysis or assessment process. Analysts must translate complex problem sets, diverse information requirements, and dynamic operational environments into a structured plan that guides collection efforts. Traditionally, this demands hours of concentrated brainwork, meticulous cross-checking, and repeated revisions.

In dynamic environments, however, time is the scarcest resource. The longer it takes to generate a robust ICP, the greater the risk that emerging information needs outpace decision-makers’ ability to respond. This is where the ICP-LLM sets a new standard: it harnesses the power of advanced language models to accelerate planning without compromising analytical rigor.

Speed of relevance

The concept of Speed of Relevance – delivering insights not only accurately but in time to influence decisions – has become an operational imperative. The ICP-LLM directly supports this imperative by:

• Automating repetitive steps in the ICP design process.
• Structuring analyst input into coherent, prioritized collection requirements.
• Reducing planning cycles from hours to minutes.
• Freeing analysts’ cognitive capacity to focus on higher-order thinking, assessment, and judgment.

The result is not a replacement of human expertise, but a force multiplier – enabling analysts to spend less time formatting and more time thinking.

From development to application

The ICP-LLM will not only be accessible to the broader community after its release, but is also scheduled for practical introduction and use within the NATO CIMIC Analysis and Assessment Course in November 2025. This will give course participants first-hand experience in applying the tool to operational scenarios, showcasing how advanced technology can seamlessly integrate with CIMIC analysis training and practice.

Looking ahead

With its launch, the ICP-LLM marks a milestone in modernizing intelligence support to operations. By shortening the time from requirement to actionable plan, it embodies the transition from traditional processes to AI-augmented workflows designed for today’s information environment.

The CCOE, together with its partners, is proud to contribute to this leap forward – ensuring that NATO and its partners remain at the forefront of analytical capability, ready to operate at the speed of relevance.