DIANA ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME

The DIANA Accelerator Programme equips businesses with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to navigate and succeed in the dual-use innovation ecosystem, through tailored pathways aligned to different stages of company maturity.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

Innovators apply to Challenges

DIANA issues public 'challenges', inviting innovators to submit their solutions. Those selected are welcomed into the DIANA Accelerator Programme and become DIANA innovators.

€100,000
funding

Selected innovators will receive €100,000 of contractual funding to enable them to continue iterating their solution in response to the challenge whilst participating in the Accelerator Programme.

Modular
elements

To ensure the diverse requirements of participating companies are addressed, the Accelerator Programme curriculum uses modular elements tailored to different profiles and stages of development. This approach will help ensure that the needs of companies of differing sizes and backgrounds are met, maximising the impact of their innovation journey.

In-person
and online
programming

Through a mix of both in-person and online programming and support, DIANA innovators gain the tools to understand and navigate complex defence markets, supercharge their network with defence industry partners, military end-users, raise private funding from defence and dual-use investors, and benefit from advice from a wide range of defence, technical and business mentors.

Access to 200+
test centres

DIANA innovators may access a network of more than 200 test centres across the Alliance to undertake testing, evaluation, validation and verification activities. They may also be invited to Operational Exercises.

DIANA'S ACCELERATOR NETWORK

DIANA's Accelerator Network, which currently consists of 16 activated accelerators across the Alliance, provides onsite and hands-on support to selected innovators. Each innovator will be assigned to one of these sites for the Accelerator Programme.

PROGRAMME EXPECTATIONS

Through a combination of in-person and virtual programme delivery, participants will receive pathway-specific support tailored to their company maturity, technology area, and market objectives.

Companies are not expected to relocate for programme activities, but are expected to travel to their assigned accelerator, or to DIANA-organised programme elements, up to six times throughout the programme.

FUNDING & TESTING

In addition to this support, innovators participating in the accelerator will receive €100,000 of contractual funding. Regardless of the pathway, innovators may seek, through competitive processes, additional funds for testing, evaluation, validation & verification activities.

The €100,000 of contractual funding is paid in full before the start of the accelerator programme and is awarded to the company, not to individuals. It supports ongoing development of the proposed solution over the first six months and is also used to cover innovators' travel costs for mandatory training sessions and events forming part of the DIANA Accelerator Programme. No additional funding will be provided to cover travel expenses beyond this allocation.

While DIANA contractual funding is provided on a tax-exempt basis, innovators and their expenditure are still subject to respective national taxation obligations.

MISSION TRACK

Mission Track is part of DIANA's Accelerator Programme and is targeted to innovators that demonstrate strong defence pull and alignment with Allied operational needs.

Innovators who are successfully down-selected to join Mission Track may receive up to €300,000 in additional contractual funding to support their adoption and fundraising efforts. Additional testing and validation budgets may also be available.


DIANA Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Regional Hub: Tallinn, Estonia
North American Office: Halifax, Canada