The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, or DIANA, has launched its 2026 program, marking the start of a new acceleration cycle with its largest group of innovators to date.
What Is Included In DIANA’s 2026 Program?
NATO said Tuesday the 2026 program began on Jan. 21-22 with 16 regional kick-off events held across NATO member countries. This year’s cohort includes 150 innovators focused on developing technologies to address defense and security challenges while supporting NATO’s operational priorities.
What Is DIANA?
DIANA is an initiative that connects innovators with a broad network of accelerators, test centers and mentors across the defense, technology and commercial sectors. Through direct engagement with investors and military users and access to real-world exercises, the program helps mature and scale emerging technologies while giving NATO allies faster access to new capabilities.
How Does DIANA Support Innovation?
DIANA drives rapid adoption by helping innovators move beyond technology development to deliver technologies aligned with real defense needs. Military expertise is integrated throughout the program, from design to testing and operational exercises. Through the Rapid Adoption Service, new technologies can be tested, refined and evaluated by NATO militaries in operational settings, accelerating the path from concept to deployment and procurement.
More than 25 DIANA-supported technologies have already been adopted by Allies or tested in operational environments. In June 2025, DIANA launched 10 new challenges to fast-track the development of dual-use deep technologies to boost regional and national security. DIANA’s first cohort included six U.S. tech companies, four of which were selected for the program’s undersea sensing and surveillance challenge set.