NATO Diana

NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) aims to support deep technology start-ups that contribute to national security and defence by bringing together talented innovators and end users of new technologies. Dual-use technologies are developed in the accelerator, i.e. the technologies can be used for both civil and defence purposes. The NATO accelerator in Estonia enables start-ups from Estonia and the surrounding region to develop their product and business model and to find cooperation partners in the NATO-wide defence market, which is normally closed and has a high entry barrier.

The Estonian accelerator will be implemented by Tehnopol Startup Incubator together with Tartu Science Park and business accelerator Startup Wiseguys.

In the first pilot year, a few dozen start-ups will be selected from all accelerators, who will receive financial support from NATO to develop their idea. The DIANA accelerator program consists of two six-month phases. After half a year, only the most promising start-ups continue in each accelerator, receiving additional support worth up to €300,000.

You can apply to the accelerator program through the NATO DIANA website. 

More information can also be found on Startup Incubator’s website.

If you have any questions, write to the program lead of the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator, karen@tehnopol.ee.

Application and more information can be found: https://www.diana.nato.int/

Challenges of the first accelerator round: https://www.diana.nato.int/challenges.html