DIANA's Challenges for 2027 have launched!

If you have a ground-breaking solution that can tackle one of our security and defence challenges, we want to hear from you. Submit your proposal to become a DIANA innovator and join the Accelerator Programme, starting in January 2027.

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL

SEE CHALLENGE STATEMENT

HOW DIANA WORKS

DIANA seeks cutting-edge and mature technological solutions to critical defence and security challenges through public challenge calls.

Innovators
Selection

Through a highly competitive selection process, DIANA selects innovators based on their proposed solutions and invites them to join the DIANA Programme. These innovators sign a framework agreement to become "DIANA Innovators" and continue iterating the solution they proposed in response to the challenge.

Accelerator
Programme

Selected Innovators then enter the Accelerator Programme with an opportunity to apply to the defence adoption oriented Mission Track. During the programme DIANA innovators can access DIANA's test centre network to test, verify and validate their solutions against end-user needs.

Solutions
Adoption

All DIANA Innovators, as part of the DIANA Programme, work to have their solutions adopted by end-users across NATO and Allies.

DYNAMIC CHALLENGES

Alongside our June challenges, DIANA will also be rolling out targeted Dynamic Challenges throughout the year.

Dynamic Challenges will seek to address urgent needs, focusing on more specific capabilities, and may be launched at any point in the year – offering innovators more regular opportunities to engage with DIANA and shape NATO's future defence and security landscape.

Urgent
Need

Funding for opt-in programme available

Dynamic
Challenge Call

Rapid Iteration
& Demonstration

Rapid Adoption
Service

Prototype contract

Participation in the
Accelerator Programme

Innovators selected for DIANA's annual Challenge Call taking place in June will continue to benefit from DIANA's Accelerator Programme, being able to engage with end users and becoming eligible for follow-on contracts through DIANA's Rapid Adoption Service.

Innovators selected for DIANA's Dynamic Challenges will not take part in the Accelerator Programme, as these challenges are designed to identify mature solutions to address urgent needs.

Our first dynamic challenge of the year:
Decision Superiority for NATO Warfighters challenge

FIND OUT MORE

Call for Proposal

Submit your proposal by 3 July. A competitive selection process will follow.

Programme

Innovators selected to join DIANA's Accelerator Programme receive contractual funding of 100,000 euros to continue iterating their solution in response to the Challenge.

Down-Selection

At the end of the Programme, a competitive down-selection takes place and a select number of DIANA Innovators will move forward to Mission Track of DIANA's Accelerator Programme.

Mission Track

Selected DIANA Innovators 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.

Adoption

All DIANA Innovators selected through the initial challenge call are supported in identifying adoption pathways to get their solutions into the hands of end-users.

WHO CAN SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

We encourage companies with innovative solutions from across the Alliance to submit proposals. Basic eligibility criteria include:

Company
details

Companies are required to provide identifying information such as legal name, place of registration, company headquarters, attestations relating to ownership and control.

Company
size or type

DIANA will accept proposals from all companies meeting the basic eligibility criteria. However, start-ups or small and medium-sized enterprises with limited experience in defence and security benefit most from the unique DIANA Challenge Programme.

Universities &
non-profit
groups

Universities and non-profit groups are not eligible to submit a proposal, although we foresee opportunities for collaboration in future years.

Technology
or product
maturity

DIANA seeks technology solutions at maturity levels of TRL 4 and above. Lower TRL solutions will not be considered at the moment.

T&Cs
governing the
competitive
selection process

Companies are required to agree to terms and conditions governing their participation in this competitive selection process, to ensure its integrity.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

The following content details is what we look for in proposals:

Proposal Content

We aim to make our submission process as straightforward and efficient as possible, using concise proposal templates. We encourage you to carefully tailor your proposal – setting out how it addresses the challenge, following the submission instructions.

Business Identification

You will be required to provide identifying information such as your company's legal name, place of registration, and company headquarters.

Short Form Proposal

This is a concise means of presenting key information focusing on your technical solution.

Long Form Proposal

This focuses on your technical solution, as well as its dual use potential including its adoption potential by defence and security end users, and its commercial viability.

Virtual Panel Session

This will involve delivering your proposal through a presentation in a live setting to an evaluation panel.

THE COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS

Short Form
Proposal

After the submission deadline, eligible proposals will have their short form proposals evaluated. Step 1 involves being scored against technical criteria – including alignment to the challenge, validity, feasibility, dual-use potential, and coherence.

Long Form
Proposal

Applicants that pass Step 1 will proceed to Step 2. Step 2 involves the long form proposal being scored against technical criteria – including alignment to the challenge, novelty, feasibility and validity; defence and security criteria – including relevance and impact; commercial and adoption criteria – including viability and commercial approach; and general criteria – including resources and dependencies and DIANA suitability.

Virtual Panel
Session

Applicants that pass Step 2 will be invited to Step 3, where they will present their proposal to an evaluation panel comprised of a DIANA Challenge Manager and evaluators with technical expertise, defence and security expertise, and commercial and adoption expertise, considering the same criteria as Step 2.