Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) issues new set of challenges to Allied innovators

Source: DIANA

On Monday (1 July 2024), NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) launched its second set of challenges. DIANA is looking for innovators across the Allied nations with dual-use, deep technologies that could solve critical defence and security problems.

 

“Innovators across the Alliance are working on ground-breaking technologies to address the world’s most complex and profound security challenges,” said Deeph Chana, DIANA’s Managing Director. “With our second group of Challenges, we’re inviting the best and brightest minds across five deep technology focal areas to join the effort to build a more peaceful and resilient future.”

DIANA provides selected innovators with funding, accelerator programming, mentorship, testing facilities and access to investors and end-users.

For its second year, DIANA is inviting innovators to submit proposals in five challenge areas: Energy and Power; Data and Information Security; Sensing and Surveillance; Human Health and Performance; and Critical Infrastructure and Logistics. Each challenge area addresses a critical and complex challenge facing the world, and invites emerging and disruptive technology developments as part of a portfolio of potential solutions.

Applicants are asked to explore three key cross-cutting themes: Space, Resilience and Sustainability. While not compulsory, these themes encourage innovators to situate their technologies within the broader context of DIANA’s goal to build resilience and reduce the risk of conflict through dual-use applications.

In 2023, 44 companies from 19 countries were selected to form DIANA’s inaugural cohort, joining a six-month accelerator bootcamp programme at five accelerator sites in Europe and North America.

The 44 companies submitted ideas in three key challenge areas: Energy Resilience; Sensing and Surveillance; and Secure Information Sharing. Selected innovators developed a broad range of technologies including innovative fuel cells, micro wind and hydro-turbines, secure optical communications, drone identification technology and more.

The window for applications will close at 1200 UTC on Friday 9 August, giving applicants approximately six weeks to prepare and submit their applications. Proposals will be assessed against criteria such as the potential transformational impact, novelty, technological feasibility and commercial viability.

 

Tags:

Related news & articles

Latest news

Featured