DIANA stimulates the development of innovative dual-use solutions that help protect the population of NATO countries and maintain peace and security. Innovators consisting of startups, scale-ups, and innovative SMEs are challenged to participate in 'challenges.' The goal is to accelerate innovations for civilian and military applications. Think of the development of new computer chips or sensors that can detect roadside bombs as well as gas leaks.
Participants from all NATO countries can apply each year. Only after strict selection are they admitted and assigned to a NATO accelerator in one of the member states. The innovators are supported to further develop their technology, build their enterprise over a six-month program, and gain unique access to defense. Participants of this session are working on homomorphic encryption and photonic chips, among other things.
The innovators are:
- Vidoc Security Lab (Poland)
- Belfort Labs BV (Belgium)
- VISS (Germany)
- Tightbeam Photonics Inc. (Canada)
- Celare Quantum Communications (Denmark)
- Pan Galactic Developments Ltd (United Kingdom)
- C2GRID OÜ (Estonia)
- EXENTECH Savunma Medikal Havacılık Bilişim Ltd.Şti. (Turkey)
- Aktiver LLC (United States)
- PERF DRONE SYSTEMS PROSTA SPÓŁKA AKCYJNA (Poland)
- ODYSSEUS Space (Luxembourg)
- FASMETRICS SA (Greece)
In total, DIANA has 150 participating innovators worldwide, distributed across 16 accelerators, who can also use 180 test centers.
NATO DIANA Accelerator The Gate Brainport is executed by Brabant Development Agency (BOM), Brainport Development, and Eindhoven University of Technology under the flag of The Gate. The accelerator is a direct result of cooperation within Brainport Innovation for Technology & Security (BITS).
In the test centers of selected organizations, innovators have the opportunity to perform high-tech experiments. The Netherlands has 2 DIANA test centers. These are the Safety & Security Campus/Robotics & AI Systems (RAS) unit in Oirschot and the Fieldlab SmartBase of Defense in Ede. Ultimately, the challenge can lead to adoption by one or more countries and NATO.
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Mariëlle van Bijsterveld
Project manager adoption Rhys Roberts of NATO Diana: “We must be more agile and create new pathways to meet the modern defence and security landscape. To the innovators, my ask to you is to use the opportunities afforded to you through the DIANA programme to go out and effect change, bringing your cutting-edge innovation to the alliance.”
Mariëlle van Bijsterveld, Program Manager from BOM: “DIANA connects innovators with concrete defense needs throughout NATO. Especially in the early stage, access to test facilities, experienced mentors, and an international network makes the difference.”
Midas de Rooij, Project lead Brainport Innovation & Technology for Security: “DIANA ensures that the region is put on the map internationally when it comes to dual-use and defense innovation. In addition, it promotes international knowledge sharing because Dutch companies go to one of the other 16 accelerator sites, and we guide innovators from various NATO countries here.”
