NATO DIANA

Your technology also suits defence, but the road to NATO customers is long? NATO DIANA offers funding, test centres and mentors. We tell you whether the programme suits you and handle the application.

On this page

Introduction
Who can apply?
How much funding is available?
When to apply?
What else do you get besides the money?
DIANA or the NATO Innovation Fund?
How we help
Sources

NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) is NATO’s accelerator programme for dual-use deep tech, meaning technology with both civilian and defence uses. Each year DIANA publishes challenges that describe defence and security problems. Companies apply with their solution, and those selected join a six-month accelerator programme.

Who can apply?

A company incorporated in a NATO country, with its headquarters and principal place of business in a NATO country. Finland is a NATO country.
The company is controlled and majority-owned by nationals of NATO countries.
The programme is aimed at start-ups and SMEs with little experience of the defence sector.
The technology is typically at maturity level TRL 4–7, or it is mature civilian technology (TRL 8+) that can be adapted to defence.

Universities and non-profit organisations cannot apply, nor can companies selected for earlier DIANA cohorts. Several companies can apply together if all meet the conditions and one acts as the lead applicant.

How much funding is available?

€100,000 in contractual funding for each company selected for the accelerator programme. The money is paid to the company before the programme starts and also covers the programme’s mandatory travel.
Up to €300,000 more in the Mission Track phase. The best companies from the accelerator are selected for it. Testing and validation budgets may also be available.

The funding does not take ownership: DIANA takes no share of the company in return. The terms are specified challenge by challenge, so always check them in the call documents.

When to apply?

DIANA opens its challenge call once a year. The call for the 2027 programme was open from 1.6. to 3.7.2026, and the selected companies start the six-month accelerator in January 2027. The timing of the next call has not yet been published, so follow the current calls on DIANA’s website.

Competition is tough. The 2026 programme received 3,680 applications, and 150 companies were selected.

What else do you get besides the money?

A place at one of DIANA’s 16 accelerator sites across the Alliance.
Access to more than 200 test centres where technology can be tested, demonstrated and validated.
Mentors: scientists, engineers, industry, end users and procurement experts.
Contacts with trusted investors and a route to the markets of NATO and the Allied countries.

In Finland, a DIANA accelerator operates at VTT’s premises in Otaniemi, Espoo. It focuses on communications technology and quantum technology, and its first programme began in January 2026. Finland also has two DIANA test centres: at VTT in Otaniemi and a 6G test centre coordinated by the University of Oulu.

DIANA or the NATO Innovation Fund?

The names are easily confused. DIANA is an accelerator that funds companies without taking ownership. The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is a one-billion-euro venture capital fund that invests in early-stage deep tech companies and in other venture capital funds. Finland takes part in the NIF through Tesi.

How we help

A DIANA application is a competition where the solution must hit the challenge precisely. We find out whether the programme suits your technology, prepare the application and handle the contact with the funder. DIANA is often worth combining with other funding. See dual-use funding and EU funding.