The Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is a NATO body that works with leading researchers and entrepreneurs across the Alliance, helping them develop technologies that enable to ensure the security of NATO populations. With dozens of accelerator sites and test centers within the Alliance, DIANA brings together academia, industry and government to work with start-ups and other innovators to solve critical challenges in defense and security.
- At the 2021 NATO Summit in Brussels, Allied leaders agreed to launch DIANA to foster transatlantic cooperation on critical technologies, promote interoperability between Allied forces, and harness civilian innovation by engaging with the academia and the private sector.
- A year later, at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, all Allied leaders approved DIANA’s charter and unveiled its initial footprint of test centers and accelerator sites.
- DIANA exists to exploit the opportunities presented by emerging and disruptive technologies, thereby strengthening NATO’s competitive advantage in collective defense and security. The development of new capabilities will improve the Alliance’s ability to respond to conventional threats – as well as the threats posed by these technologies themselves.
- Specific technology areas of interest for DIANA include artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, quantum technologies, biotechnology and human enhancement, hypersonic systems, space, new materials and manufacturing, energy and propulsion, as well as new generation communications networks.
- DIANA has a regional office in London, United Kingdom. Another regional office is being opened in Halifax, Canada, and a regional center will soon open in Tallinn, Estonia. Additionally, DIANA leverages a network of more than 10 accelerator sites and 90 test centers across the Alliance.
DIANA works by meeting competitive challenges in the industry. Each challenge is based on a critical defense and security issue and asks innovators to develop cutting-edge dual-use technologies (i.e., technologies focused on markets and commercial uses, but which can also have defense and security applications) to help solve it.
Innovators selected in DIANA programs receive non-dilutive grants (i.e. investment capital that does not require them to give up equity or ownership of their business) and have access to research sites. accelerators and test centers of the Alliance. DIANA Accelerator Sites are based at facilities or organizations that have been selected by Allies to implement DIANA’s unique dual-use (commercial/defense and security) accelerator programs. DIANA Test Centers are laboratories, test beds or field environments available to test, evaluate, validate and verify technologies developed by innovators selected in DIANA’s challenge programs. The accelerator sites and test centers are based at existing universities and research centers in Europe and North America, which have applied to join DIANA through their national defense ministries.
Innovators also have access to a network of mentors (scientists, engineers, industry experts, end users and government procurement experts) and a community of trusted investors. Finally, DIANA provides marketing opportunities both within NATO as an organization and to Allied nations, connecting innovators with Allied military and government end users who will work with the selected companies for the help adapt their solutions to allied military needs.
Technologies developed by DIANA could also benefit from funding from the NATO Innovation Fund, a billion-euro venture capital fund. established by a group of NATO allies at the 2022 Madrid summit. The world’s first multi-sovereign venture capital fund, it will invest its funding over a period of 15 years in start-ups developing or adapting technologies for defense and security. The Fund will prioritize investments in DIANA-accelerated companies headquartered in one of the Fund’s participating countries (which currently includes 23 NATO allied countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom).
DIANE launched its first three challenge pilot programs in 2023. Once fully operational in 2025, DIANA will have the capacity to work with hundreds of innovators each year across an even broader network of accelerator sites and test centers across the Alliance.
The DIANA Board of Directors, which held its first meeting in October 2022, is responsible for the organizational governance of DIANA. It is headed by a President of the Council and is composed of a representative from each NATO member country. DIANA operates under a charter approved by the North Atlantic Council and reports to the Council on its activities.
Evolution
June 2021
At Brussels Summit 2021As part of the NATO 2030 Agenda, Heads of State and Government of member countries agree to launch DIANA to foster transatlantic cooperation on critical technologies, promote interoperability between Allied forces and harness civilian innovation by engaging with academia and the private sector.
April 2022
NATO Foreign Ministers approve the DIANA charter, which sets out its mission and strategy; judicial authorities; financial mechanism; governance; and the regional offices, accelerator sites and testing centers that will make up its initial footprint.
April 2022
The NATO Advisory Group on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (an independent group of 12 experts from the private sector and academia, which provides external advice to NATO on how it can optimize its innovation efforts) presents its conclusions. second annual reportfor 2021. The report examines progress made in establishing DIANA and describes how this and other initiatives are signs of real action towards NATO technological readiness.
June 2022
At Madrid Summit 2022all NATO leaders approve DIANA’s charter and unveil its initial footprint of test centers and accelerator sites.
March 2023
DIANE opens its European regional office at the Imperial College London Innovation Hub in London, UK.
June 2023
DIANE launches its first three challenge pilot programsinviting innovators to apply for its programs.
