NATO's DIANA Launches Ten New Innovation Challenges to Boost Alliance Security

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NATO’s DIANA Launches Ten New Innovation Challenges to Boost Alliance Security

Participants in Phase 1 will receive €100,000 in contractual funding to support the iteration of their solutions in response to the challenge.

RMN News World Report
June 5, 2025

Brussels, Belgium – NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) officially launched ten new innovation challenges on Monday, 2 June 2025. These challenges are designed to identify the next generation of dual-use deep technologies aimed at enhancing the protection of the Alliance’s one billion citizens.

Innovators across member nations are invited to submit proposals addressing these challenges. The deadline for proposal submissions is 12:00 UTC on Friday, 11 July 2025.

DIANA formulates its challenges based on priorities identified by NATO and Allied nations, in addition to considering the latest trends in emerging and disruptive technologies and market potential.

The ten specific areas for which DIANA is seeking proposals are:

Energy and Power
Advanced Communication Technologies
Contested Electromagnetic Environments
Human Resilience and Biotechnologies
Critical Infrastructure and Logistics
Operations in Extreme Environments
Maritime Operations
Resilient Space Operations
Autonomy and Unmanned Systems
Data Assisted Decision Making

Selected innovators will advance to Phase 1 of the DIANA programme. This includes participation in a six-month accelerator programme commencing in January 2026, making them part of DIANA’s 2026 cohort.

Participants in Phase 1 will receive €100,000 in contractual funding to support the iteration of their solutions in response to the challenge. The programme also provides access to a vast network of over 180 test centres located across Europe and North America, available for testing, evaluation, validation, and verification activities.

Through a blend of in-person and online programming and support, DIANA innovators will also acquire essential tools for business growth, receive guidance on navigating complex defence procurement processes, and have opportunities to significantly expand their networks with industry partners, military end-users, potential investors, and mentors.