What DIANA offers

DIANA leverages its acceleration programme and test centre network to bring start-ups together with operational end users, scientists, and systems integrators to advance compelling deep tech with dual-use solutions for the Alliance.

Companies accepted into the DIANA accelerator programme gain access to:

• grants to support technology development and demonstration, and participation in the DIANA accelerator programme.
• 10+ accelerators across the Alliance, with more planned over the coming years
• 90+ test centres (with more planned) across the Alliance where entrepreneurs can de-risk, and demonstrate and validate their proposed dual-use technological solutions
• mentoring from scientists, engineers, industry partners, end users, and government procurement experts
• an investor network for trusted third-party funding
• opportunities to demonstrate technology in operational environments
• pathways to market within the NATO enterprise and 31 Allied markets

Emerging Disruptive Technologies

Emerging and disruptive technologies are changing the way the Alliance operates in times of peace, crisis, and conflict. To sharpen NATO’s technological edge, Allied nations are working together with the private sector to adopt and integrate new technologies and shape standards.

Among other technology areas, DIANA will focus on big data, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, quantum, biotechnologies and human enhancement, energy and propulsion, novel materials and advanced manufacturing, hypersonics and space – specifically where they are dual-use (civilian and defence) and deep tech in nature, and where they can be used to solve challenging defence and security problems.

• Lawfulness
• Responsibility
• Accountability
• Explainability
• Traceability
• Reliability
• Governability
• Bias Mitigation

* for AI in defence applications.

Governance

All NATO nations are members of DIANA. The DIANA Board of Directors is responsible for governance – and comprises representatives from every Allied country.

NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)

Investing EUR 1 billion in deep tech to secure the future of the Alliance’s 1 billion citizens

EDA (European Defence Agency)

The European Defence Agency (EDA) supports its 27 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative, capability projects, the Agency has become the ‘hub’ for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks allowing it to cover the whole spectrum.