— DIANA Challenges 2027 is now open! —
Are you a Sweden-based tech startup or SME with an innovation that could make a real difference, both for civilian use and defense applications? Then take a look at DIANA Challenges 2027, now accepting proposals.
DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) is NATO’s accelerator program for dual-use innovation technologies with both civilian and military applications. The program offers funding, business support, and international exposure for companies developing high-potential solutions.
What is the opportunity?
Until 3 July 2026 (12:00 UTC), startups and SMEs can submit a Short Proposal (max 5 pages) outlining how their technology addresses one of NATO’s priority challenge areas, ranging from energy systems and AI to space tech and decision support.
If selected, your company will receive:
- €100,000 in Phase 1 to further develop your tech within DIANA’s accelerator framework
- A chance to apply for an additional €300,000 in Phase 2 to validate and demonstrate your solution and connect with investors and end users
Who can apply?
The program is open to commercial companies that:
- Are headquartered in a NATO country
- Have a DUNS number (DIANA no longer accepts UEI numbers. Read below how to get your DUNS number)
- Have reached at least Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL 4)
(Lower TRLs may be accepted if the solution has strong dual-use potential)
How to move forward
- Visit the DIANA Challenges site and explore which of the challenges best fits your tech.
- Prepare a Short Proposal (max 5 pages + a “Quad Chart”).
- Register your company and submit your application no later than 3 July, 2026, at 12:00 UTC.
If you are selected for Phase 2, you can submit a full proposal and pitch to an international jury panel.
The timeline is short, but the opportunity is big.
Start working on your application today and take your company to the next level with one of the world’s most exciting dual-use innovation programs.
👉 Apply here: www.diana.nato.int/challenges.htm
The six challenge areas for 2027 are:
- Human Survivability – improving health, safety and performance for personnel operating in demanding environments.
- Multidomain Autonomy of Uncrewed Systems – enabling autonomous systems to operate and collaborate more effectively across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains.
- Multidomain Sensing and Advanced Data Processing for Intelligence and Surveillance – improving situational awareness through advanced sensing, data fusion and analytics.
- Operational Resilience in Contested Environments – strengthening the ability to operate despite cyber threats, electronic interference and other disruptions.
- Responsive Logistics – developing agile and resilient solutions for supply chains and logistics during crises.
- Scalable and Adaptable Countermeasures for Air Defence – creating effective responses to evolving aerial threats.
Need a DUNS Number?
To apply, your company must have a DUNS number, a unique nine-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet. Apply for your DUNS number here
Use Dun & Bradstreet’s D‑U‑N‑S Number Lookup tool to see if you are already in our database.
Get support
You can get additional help with your application from EU SME Support – a national service financed by Vinnova, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) and the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten), working to get more Swedish small and medium sized enterprises with international ambitions to successfully apply for financing from the major EU programmes.
