The accelerator will be established by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in collaboration with Aalto University and the University of Helsinki. The accelerator will focus on the communication systems and quantum technologies of the future, and it will be based in Otaniemi, Espoo. Technology test centres will be established at the University of Oulu and VTT's Otaniemi site.
The DIANA accelerator is a training programme that helps companies to develop deep technologies and innovations for commercial and defence purposes. It will also provide companies with extensive and varied training on how to develop business opportunities. The accelerator’s services will be specifically targeted at startups and SMEs with limited experience in the defence and security sector.
“The University of Helsinki is proud to be involved in promoting the development of dual-use technologies in Finland. We possess a great deal of expertise in the technology themes of the DIANA programme and are eagerly waiting to support DIANA startups as they develop their technologies. The success of our incubators at the University of Helsinki also provides a good foundation for these activities,” says Dean Sasu Tarkoma.
DIANA selects companies for accelerators through its application process. This procedure is called the DIANA challenge programme.
Press releases:
- VTT press release: NATO accelerator and two test centres to be established in Finland
- Ministry of Defence press release: Finland to boost its high-technology profile in NATO – An accelerator and two test centres to be established in Finland
NATO's DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) initiative aims to identify future challenges in the defence and security sector and work with companies to identify technological solutions to them. The initiative focuses on new technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomy and quantum technologies, which are dual-use in nature, i.e., they can be commercially exploited in both the civil and defence sectors.