The aim of the NATO DIANA challenges is to identify and support developers in different countries so that together, as the NATO alliance, we can be at the forefront of technological development. Through the NATO DIANA challenges, we can strengthen, protect and build a peaceful and sustainable future together.

The 2024 DIANA challenges

The application period is 1 July – 9 August 2024, and applications must be submitted at:
https://www.nato-diana.org/s/

Read more about the application criteria:
https://www.diana.nato.int/challenges.html

Energy & Power

Sustainable energy: Designed to build on and expand
the success of last year’s challenge on energy resilience. The challenge
focuses on improving the resilience of energy and electric power in connection with generation,
storage, distribution, recovery, harvesting and propulsion across different
sectors.

Data & Information Security

Data and information security: DIANA is looking for
technology solutions that facilitate the production, exploitation,
distribution and protection of information in multi-domain environments, including
space, characterised by diverse devices, communication systems,
operating environments and operating concepts.

Sensing & Surveillance

Sensing and surveillance: This challenge also builds on
the successful 2023 sensing and surveillance challenge, and it
expands to all domains (land, sea, air, space and cyber).

Human Health & Performance

Human health and performance: This challenge
seeks solutions that improve the understanding of human physical and mental health and
well-being in different operating environments, including
space.

Critical Infrastructure & Logistics

Critical infrastructure and logistics:
This challenge focuses on the secure and reliable operation of critical national and international infrastructure
and global supply chains across different
sectors.

VTT, together with its partners, coaches Finnish startups and SMEs

In addition to VTT, companies are coached for the challenge competition of NATO’s DIANA innovation accelerator by Business Finland, Tesi, FiBAN, DDE (Digital Defence Ecosystem) and DEFINE (Defence Innovation Network Finland)

A coaching event for companies applying to the DIANA accelerator will be held on 31 July 2024 in Otaniemi, Espoo, with a separate application process:

https://www.vttresearch.com/en/diana-sparraus-2024

The selected companies receive feedback on their applications from defence professionals as well as from business and technology mentors. DIANA also organises virtual webinars where participants can ask questions about the application and evaluation process.

Further information is provided by our DEFINE partner VTT (see contact details).