NATO DIANA Challenge Call for 2026
DIANA's Challenges for 2026 have launched, calling all innovators who are on a mission to develop ground-breaking dual-use technology within this year’s 10 challenge areas
DIANA seeks dual-use, deep tech solutions to critical defence, security and resilience challenges through public challenge calls. Selected innovators then enter the Accelerator Programme, which is delivered in two distinct phases (Phase 1 and Phase 2). Across these two phases, DIANA Innovators can access DIANA’s test centre network to test, evaluate, verify and validate their solutions against end-user needs.
Innovators selected to join Phase 1 of DIANA’s Accelerator Programme receive contractual funding of 100,000 euros to continue iterating their solution in response to the Challenge. At the end of Phase 1, a competitive down-selection takes place and a select number of DIANA Innovators will move forward to Phase 2 of DIANA’s Accelerator Programme. Selected DIANA Innovators for phase 2 may receive additional funding of up to 300,000 euros to further iterate and demonstrate their solution, develop transition strategies, and work with investors and end users to identify pathways to adoption.
Type of projects to be funded: DIANA seeks dual-use, deep tech solutions to specific critical defence, security and resilience challenges.
Sectors / domain: Defense
Individual or consortium: Individual.
Specific eligibility requirements:
- Open to companies from NATO member countries. Universities and non-profit groups are not eligible to submit a proposal.
- DIANA seeks technology solutions at maturity levels of TRL 4 and above.
- Companies are required to provide identifying information such as legal name, place of registration, company headquarters, attestations relating to ownership and control, and DUNS/UEI number.
Specific topics or challenges: ten Challenge titles are listed with the detailed Challenge Statements in the DIANA Challenge, under the following areas: 1. Energy and Power; 2. Advanced Communication Technologies; 3. Contested Electromagnetic Environments; 4. Human Resilience and Biotechnology; 5. Critical Infrastructure and Logistics; 6. Operations in Extreme Environments; 7. Maritime Operations; 8. Resilient Space Operations; 9. Autonomy and Unmanned Systems; 10. Data Assisted Decision Making.
Projects duration: not explicitly mentioned.
Budget, funding rates and payment conditions:
Funding rate: not explicitly mentioned.
Budget conditions / limitations: Phase 1: 100,000 euros; innovators moving forward to Phase 2 of DIANA’s Accelerator Programme may receive additional funding of up to 300,000 euros to further iterate and demonstrate their solution.
Payments: not explicitly mentioned.
Links
Closes
11/07/2025
Max funding per project
100.000€