In 2024, VTT and Finland were approved in the network for the NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) programme to establish an accelerator and two test centres. The test centres are active already, and the accelerator will activate soon to support NATO’s targets to advance the development of dual-use technologies.

“Next year, the accelerator operated by us will be one of the active players in the DIANA network, and we will be mentoring companies alongside sixteen other accelerators. Together with our partners, Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, we are eager to start mentoring startups and SMEs that want to develop dual-use technologies,” says Lotta Partanen, Head of Incubation and Acceleration at VTT LaunchPad.

The DIANA accelerator programme equips companies with the skills required to develop dual-use technologies that address major defence and resilience challenges.

“The NATO DIANA accelerator will provide companies training sessions and mentoring in commercial, technical, and defence-related issues, as well as access to defence expertise and investor networks. The companies selected to the accelerator programme will gain facilitated access to NATO’s commercial market through the Rapid Adoption Service (RAS) mechanism,” tells Sauli Eloranta, Vice President, Defence at VTT.

DIANA awards companies approved for the accelerator programme a grant of €100,000. In addition, the programme includes a high-quality six-month hands-on training programme with access to about 180 test centres.

Next year’s DIANA programme covers ten technology themes

The application period for 2026 is currently underway and will end on 11th July. Companies from all NATO member countries are eligible to apply. DIANA will select the companies for the accelerator programme and the different accelerator locations.

Next year’s accelerator programme includes 10 technology themes: energy and power, advanced communications technologies, contested electromagnetic environments, human resilience and biotechnology, operations in extreme environments, maritime operations, resilient space operations, critical infrastructure and logistics, autonomy and unmanned systems, and data assisted decision making.

The strengths and expertise of the accelerator operated by VTT are based on future communications systems and quantum technology. However, DIANA will determine the specific focus areas of the accelerators during the autumn.

VTT provides coaching and support to Finnish companies in the coming weeks with the aim of helping them get selected for the DIANA accelerator programme.

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