NATO DIANA Estonia’s accelerator

New application round for NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) open until August 2024!

The new application round for the NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) is open from July 1 until the beginning of August! We invite innovative startups from across NATO to apply and bring their groundbreaking solutions to the forefront of defence and security. 

The aim of the NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) accelerator is to support deep technology startups that contribute to national security and defense by bringing together talented innovators and end-users of new technologies. The accelerator focuses on developing dual-use technologies, meaning they can be used for both civilian and defense purposes. The NATO accelerator in Estonia primarily enables startups from Estonia and the nearby region to develop their products and business models, and to find collaboration partners in the Alliance-wide defense market, which is typically closed and has high entry barriers.

All companies accepted into the accelerator receive a grant of 100,000 euros, and the best ones can receive up to an additional 300,000 euros in funding. Additionally, companies can expect a high-quality 6-month training program, access to over 90 test centers, a program connecting the defense and business sectors, and a network of top mentors across the Alliance. DIANA creates a bridge between universities, companies, and the public sector, with the goal of supporting the development of innovative technologies that help address challenges in both the civilian and defense sectors, leading us towards a more secure and sustainable world.

2024 DIANA Challenge Topics 

For its second year, DIANA invites innovators to submit proposals in five challenge areas: 

1. Energy & Power: Enhancing energy and power resilience in the context of generation, storage, distribution, recovery, harvesting, and propulsion across various domains. 
2. Data & Information Security: Facilitating data production, utilization, distribution, and protection in multi-domain environments, including space. 
3. Sensing & Surveillance: Expanding on the success of the 2023 challenge to include all domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyber). 
4. Human Health & Performance: Improving the understanding and enhancement of human health and wellbeing, both physical and psychological, in various operational contexts including space. 
5. Critical Infrastructure & Logistics: Focusing on the secure and trustworthy operation of critical national and international infrastructure, and global supply chains across various domains. 

Cross-Cutting Themes: 

• Space: Representing a vast and largely unexplored frontier with immense potential for scientific discovery and technological innovation. 

• Resilience: Emphasizing the need for solutions and technologies that can withstand and quickly recover from disruptions or threats. 

• Sustainability: Highlighting the importance of developing and implementing environmentally friendly, energy-efficient technologies and practices that ensure long-term viability. 

Selection Process 

• Straightforward Application: The selection process enables applicants to describe their proposed technology solution and its relevance to the challenge in a brief application package. 

• Application Package: Comprising a single-page ‘quad chart’ and a four-page proposal, using templates. Applications are required to be submitted in English. 

• Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be assessed on their transformational nature, potential for high impact, uniqueness, technological feasibility, dual-use relevance, commercial viability, and potential defence and security applications. 

• Application Timeline: The application window is open from July 1 until August 9. Application form is on NATO DIANA’s website.  

• NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator will hold a virtual office hour on July 11 giving an overview of the program, challenges and application process. More information and registration coming soon!  

Find out more and apply: NATO DIANA.