In the run-up to this week’s 2024 NATO Summit in Washington D.C., NATO DIANA announced the innovation accelerator’s 2024 Innovation Challenges.  Details here.

About NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)

In the months before the  2023 NATO Summit in Lithuania, NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) opened its European regional office at the Imperial College London Innovation Hub in London in May and launched its first three pilot challenge programs. This operational “standup” was all in a timeline of less than a year since the NATO Foreign Ministers endorsed the charter for DIANA in April 2022 – which outlines its mission and strategy; legal authorities; financial mechanism; governance; and the regional offices, accelerator sites, and test centers that will make up its initial footprint. For a complete history of and context on NATO-DIANA, go to this link.

NATO DIANA launches five new challenges to Allied innovators

NATO DIANA’s 2024 Challenges

DIANA is looking for innovators across the Allied nations with dual-use, deep technologies that could solve critical defence and security problems.

In 2024, NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) introduced a new set of challenges, focusing on enhancing defense and security with innovative deep tech solutions. These challenges are centered around five key areas:

1. Energy & Power: Seeking innovative solutions to enhance energy resilience.
2. Data & Information Security: Emphasizing the protection of data through advanced technological means.
3. Sensing & Surveillance: Enhancing capabilities in monitoring and intelligence.
4. Human Health & Performance: Innovations to improve health and performance in defense contexts.
5. Critical Infrastructure & Logistics: Aiming to bolster the robustness and efficiency of critical systems and logistics.

These challenges aim to harness technology to ensure resilience, explore the potential of space for discovery, and promote environmentally friendly technologies and practices within NATO operations. DIANA supports this initiative by providing funding, accelerator programming, mentorship, and access to testing facilities and investors, facilitating a bridge between innovators and the defense sector to address these critical areas​ (Diana NATO)​.

For 2024, NATO DIANA has identified specific problem statements for each of the five challenges aimed at driving innovation in defense and security:

1. Energy & Power: Solutions are sought to enhance resilience and efficiency in energy systems, including novel energy storage technologies, smart grid technologies, and advanced methods for energy generation and distribution.
2. Data & Information Security: Focus is on developing technologies that enhance the security and integrity of data across multiple domains. This includes innovations in quantum and post-quantum cryptography, edge computing, and secure communication technologies.
3. Sensing & Surveillance: The challenge seeks advancements in technologies that improve situational awareness, forecasting, and surveillance capabilities. This includes development in drone technology, augmented reality, and advanced sensing materials.
4. Human Health & Performance: This challenge focuses on technologies that enhance human performance and health monitoring, including wearable technologies, advanced prosthetics, and solutions for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense.
5. Critical Infrastructure & Logistics: Innovations are required to improve the security and efficiency of critical infrastructure and logistics. This includes IoT technology, data analytics, and technologies aimed at enhancing the resilience of supply chains and infrastructure.

These challenges encourage applicants to propose solutions that are not only innovative but also commercially viable and capable of contributing to the resilience and effectiveness of NATO’s defense posture. More details and application guidelines can be found on the DIANA website.

DIANA, NATO’s Innovation Accelerator, Doubles the Size of its Transatlantic Network

NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) announced the significant expansion of its transatlantic network of accelerator sites and test centres.

DIANA’s network will now comprise 23 accelerator sites (up from 11) and 182 test centres (up from 90) in 28 Allied countries.

The new accelerator sites and test centres will augment DIANA’s capacity to support innovators from across the Alliance as they develop their technologies.

DIANA-affiliated accelerators deliver world-class programming to companies in the programme, while the network of test centres provides access to cutting edge testing facilities. These are available to DIANA’s current cohort of companies, as well as those DIANA will support in future, giving them expert advice and access to test and try their technologies in specialised environments.

“Part of DIANA’s strength, is our unique transatlantic network of talent centres and innovation leaders working toward a common purpose,” said Professor Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA. “The breadth and diversity of partners in DIANA’s network will accelerate the development and deployment of groundbreaking solutions for defence, security and peace.” 

The expansion represents a significant milestone for DIANA. Last November, 44 companies were chosen from over 1300 applicants to join DIANA’s accelerator programme. The cohort of innovators were selected to tackle specific challenges on energy resilience, undersea sensing and surveillance, and secure information sharing.

DIANA has been established by NATO to find and accelerate dual-use innovation capacity across the Alliance. DIANA provides companies with the resources, networks and guidance to develop deep technologies to solve critical defence and security challenges, from operating in denied environments to tackling threats to our collective resilience.

Quick facts/links

• DIANA’s network expands from 11 to 23 accelerator sites and from 90 to 182 test centres in 28 Allied countries.
• DIANA works with start-up, scale up and spin-out companies from across the Alliance, supporting them with funding, training and commercial advice as well as access to a wide network of investors and industry.
• DIANA’s accelerator programme is designed to equip businesses with the skills and knowledge to navigate the world of deep tech, dual-use innovation. It provides an immersive curriculum over a six-month ‘bootcamp’.
• Accelerators and test centre sites are affiliated elements in the DIANA network – and have been nominated by their home nation. New sites in the network will come onstream in the coming months.

For more information – including to see an interactive map of the expanded network – visit DIANA’s website: www.diana.nato.int

https://oodaloop.com/archive/2023/12/07/the-latest-developments-from-darpas-aixcc-and-natos-diana/

Additional OODA Loop Resources

OODAcon Global Risk Briefing for 2024:  The annual OODA Global Risk Briefing was the penultimate session at OODAcon 2023.  Jen Hoar spoke with Johnny Sawyer about the strategic prism business leaders need to apply to the geopolitical risk environment.  Following are the insights from the discussion.  Note:  This conversation was held on October 25, 2023 and is consistent with the concepts discussed below, specifically that “the prism on the statements made below has shifted dramatically” based on how events have unfolded since late October.   With that, the overall strategic advice re: business communications techniques  – and mitigating risk vis a vis geopolitical events – remain prescient, vital, and strategically “evergreen.”

OODAcon 2023 – OODA Global Risk Briefing:  Drawn from our OODA Network of Experts, this global risk briefing will update you on the latest conventional and cyber threats and geopolitical considerations that should inform your decision-making.

The Global Polycrisis: The Middle East, China, The Indo-Pacific, Russia, Ukraine, and NATO –  Polycrisis: A cluster of interdependent global risks create a compounding effect, such that their overall impact exceeds the sum of their individual parts. (1)    In this era of global poly-crisis, leaders are also reacting to the major macroeconomic trend of the last thirty years – the fundamental driver of the tectonic shifts in geopolitics and deep inside the economies of nation-states – which is that the BRICs global share of GDP May Overtake the G7 by 2028.  The geopolitical players and regions of the global polycrisis (jagged transitions, strategies, binaries fractures, major developments, and crucial events) summarized here include The Middle East, China and the Indo-Pacific, and Russia, Ukraine, and NATO.

Decision Intelligence for Optimal Choices: The simultaneous occurrence of numerous disruptions complicates situational awareness and can inhibit effective decision-making. Every enterprise should evaluate their methods of data collection, assessment, and decision-making processes. For more insights: Decision Intelligence.

Proactive Mitigation of Cyber Threats: The relentless nature of cyber adversaries, whether they are criminals or nation-states, necessitates proactive measures. It’s crucial to remember that cybersecurity isn’t solely the responsibility of the IT department or the CISO – it’s a collective effort that involves the entire leadership. Relying solely on governmental actions isn’t advised given its inconsistent approach towards aiding industries in risk reduction. See: Cyber Defenses

The Necessity of Continuous Vigilance in Cybersecurity: The consistent warnings from the FBI and CISA concerning cybersecurity signal potential large-scale threats. Cybersecurity demands 24/7 attention, even on holidays. Ensuring team endurance and preventing burnout by allocating rest periods are imperative. See: Continuous Vigilance

Embracing Corporate Intelligence and Scenario Planning in an Uncertain Age: Apart from traditional competitive challenges, businesses also confront external threats, many of which are unpredictable. This environment amplifies the significance of Scenario Planning. It enables leaders to envision varied futures, thereby identifying potential risks and opportunities. All organizations, regardless of their size, should allocate time to refine their understanding of the current risk landscape and adapt their strategies. See: Scenario Planning

Track Technology Driven Disruption: Businesses should examine technological drivers and future customer demands. A multi-disciplinary knowledge of tech domains is essential for effective foresight. See: Disruptive and Exponential Technologies.

Planning for a Continuous Pandemic Landscape: COVID-19’s geopolitical repercussions are evident, with recent assessments pointing to China’s role in its spread. Regardless of the exact origins, the same conditions that allowed COVID-19 to become a pandemic persist today. Therefore, businesses must be prepared for consistent health disruptions, implying that a substantial portion of the workforce might always operate remotely, even though face-to-face interactions remain vital for critical decisions. See: COVID Sensemaking

The Inevitable Acceleration of Reshoring and its Challenges: The momentum towards reshoring, nearshoring, and friendshoring signals a global shift towards regional self-reliance. Each region will emphasize local manufacturing, food production, energy generation, defense, and automation. Reshoring is a complex process, with numerous examples of failures stemming from underestimating intricacies. Comprehensive analyses encompassing various facets, from engineering to finance, are essential for successful reshoring endeavors. See: Opportunities for Advantage.