NATO launched a call for the next edition of the "DIANA" programme aimed at start-ups, technology companies and investigation and improvement teams working on dual-use solutions. You can apply until 3 July. This year, the Alliance is promoting technologies related to, among others, AI, drones, opposition to human interference and survival.
The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic is 1 of the key NATO instruments supporting breakthrough development. Security and defence technologies. Its aim is to accelerate the implementation of innovation to the armed forces of the States of the Alliance and to build cooperation between industry, the technological community and military end users.
This year's NATO call seeks solutions in six technological areas: expanding the endurance of people, the autonomy of unmanned systems operating in many domains (environments) of operation, advanced designation and processing of data for intelligence and observation, as well as scalable and flexible countermeasures in anti-aircraft defense.
EUR 400 000 for the best
The companies qualified for the programme will form a group of participants of "DIANA 2027" and from January next year the six-month acceleration programme will begin. Participants will receive access to mentors, military experts, investors and NATO investigation infrastructure. The programme is intended to aid young companies adapt the technology to the requirements of the defence marketplace and accelerate its implementation to applicable usage by associate States.
The "DIANA" has a network of 16 alleged accelerators (the centres for accelerating technological improvement and companies) in Europe, the USA and Canada and more than 200 test centres deployed in NATO countries. This allows participants to conduct research, investigating and demonstration of technology in conditions akin to actual operational applications. In addition, companies qualified for the NATO programme "DIANA 2027" will receive EUR 100 000 of backing for the improvement of their technologies. The best task developers will then be able to apply for additional support of up to EUR 300 000 in the second phase of the programme.
Polish commitment
Poland is actively active in the ‘DIANA’ initiative. In Krakow, 1 of the authoritative accelerators of the programme works – FORT Kraków. In addition, 3 companies from Poland were among 150 companies selected for the NATO programme "DIANA 2026". Vidoc safety laboratory develops tools to safe code created by both developers and artificial intelligence systems. Perf Drone Systems is working on disruptive long-range communication systems for unmanned vehicles designed to operate in an intensive electronic combat environment. In turn, Quantum Quest develops a modular autopilot for autonomous underwater systems, which can be used, among others, in marine recognition, critical infrastructure protection and antimine activities.
The ‘DIANA’ programme enjoys increasing interest. By the first edition in 2023, about 1,300 applications were received (44 projects were qualified) and a year later there were twice as many. More than 3.6 1000 projects were submitted for this year's edition, of which 150 companies (4%) were selected to make technologies in the field of artificial intelligence, autonomy, robotics, advanced communication and another key areas for the safety of the Alliance states.
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