The Next Generation Communications LaunchPad Accelerator
VTT LaunchPad has been selected to operate NATO DIANA accelerator and test centers in Finland. The DIANA accelerator programme is designed to equip businesses with the skills and knowledge to navigate the world of deep tech, dual-use innovation, by bringing together talented innovators and end users of new technologies.
2024 DIANA Challenge Topics
For its second year, DIANA will be asking innovators to submit proposals in five challenge areas. These are:
- Energy & Power: Designed to build and expand on the success of last year’s challenge on energy resilience. It focuses on enhancing energy and power resilience in the context of generation, storage, distribution, recovery, harvesting and propulsion across various domains.
- Data & Information Security: DIANA is looking for technology solutions that facilitate data production, utilisation, distribution, and protection in multi- domain environments, including space, characterised by a variety of disparate devices, communication systems, operational settings, and operational concepts.
- Sensing & Surveillance: This challenge also builds on the success of the sensing and surveillance challenge in 2023 and will expand to all domains (land, sea, air, space and cyber).
- Human Health & Performance: This challenge will invite solutions which improve the understanding and enhancement of human health and wellbeing, both physical and psychological, in various operational contexts including space.
- Critical Infrastructure & Logistics: This challenge will focus on the secure and trustworthy operation of critical national and international infrastructure, and global supply chains across various domains.
Three cross-cutting themes are designed to encourage innovators to consider the interconnection of applications and technologies across different domains:
- Space: The environment of space represents a vast and largely unexplored frontier with immense potential for scientific discovery and technological innovation.
- Resilience: This theme emphasises the need for solutions and technologies that can withstand and quickly recover from disruptions or threats.
- Sustainability: DIANA seeks to emphasise the importance of developing and implementing environmentally friendly, energy-efficient technologies and practices that ensure long-term viability.
What DIANA offers
DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO organisation with a mission to locate and accelerate dual-use innovation across the Alliance. DIANA leverages its accelerator programme and test centre network to bring startups together with operational end users, scientists and systems integrators to advance compelling deep tech with dual-use solutions for the Alliance.
Companies accepted into the DIANA accelerator programme gain access to:
- funding to support technology development and demonstration, and participation in the DIANA accelerator programme
- 23 accelerators across the Alliance
- 182 test centres across the Alliance where entrepreneurs can de-risk, demonstrate and validate their proposed dual-use technological solutions
- mentoring from scientists, engineers, industry partners, end users, and government procurement experts
- an investor network associated with the Allied Capital Community for trusted third-party funding
- opportunities to demonstrate technology in operational environments
- pathways to market within the NATO enterprise and 32 Allied markets
All companies admitted to the accelerator receive a grant of EUR 100,000, with the possibility for the best ones to receive an additional EUR 300,000 in funding. In addition, companies can expect a high-quality 6-month training program, access to over 90 test centers, a program bridging defence and business sectors, and a network of top mentors across the alliance. DIANA builds a bridge between universities, businesses, and the public and defence sector, with the aim of supporting the development of innovative technologies that help address civilian and defence sector challenges and lead us towards a more sustainable and secure world.
The Next Generation Communications and Quantum Accelerator is aimed at DIANA selected startups to develop their product and business model and find cooperation partners in the Alliance-wide defence market, which is traditionally closed and has high entry barriers. The accelerator in Otaniemi will focus on communication and Quantum technologies, but companies can participate in the accelerator also under other themes.
Finnish startups aiming to apply to the NATO DIANA Challenges in 2024, can participate in pitching training and receive help on their application in workshops organized in collaboration with Business Finland.
For general inquiries please email at [email protected].
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