NATO DIANA issues latest Challenge Call for defence innovations – project proposals are due by 10 July

Innovators and technology leaders can now apply to the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)'s Challenges through a Challenge Call for 2025. Project proposals must be submitted no later than midnight on Thursday 10 July 2025. The aim is to seek out innovative dual use (military and civilian), deep tech solutions to the NATO member nations' defence, security and resilience capabilities.

10 challenge areas have been announced for 2025:

• 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 applicants will participate in DIANA's six-month Accelerator Programme, starting from January 2026. As well as providing a funding grant of €100,000 up to €300,000 and access to the markets of NATO member states, the programme will also facilitate access to a network of more than 180 test centres from across the Alliance, deliver professional advice from experienced mentors and experts, and create opportunities to establish contacts with investors.

In a statement, the Slovak Defence Ministry said: “Our aim is to seek innovations with the potential to fundamentally impact the future of defence and security. DIANA represents a unique opportunity for start-ups and research teams to develop their technologies and apply them to the NATO environment. Slovakia wants to actively partake in shaping modern defence as the key to strengthening its technological sovereignty through such cooperation.”

Applicants can submit their proposals via: https://www.diana.nato.int/challenges.html.

For more information on the DIANA Accelerator Programme, you can go to the SVK MOD website at https://www.mosr.sk/severoatlanticky-akcelerator-pre-obranne-inovacie-diana/.

If you have any questions, you can submit an enquiry by sending an email to diana@mod.gov.sk.