At some point, you’ve likely received the dreaded email from a financial institution, medical facility, or social media platform: there’s been a breach; your information may be compromised.
We rely on the safe and secure transfer of data and information for our daily lives. Institutions know that trust is critical, and take information security very seriously.
In the defense setting, communication on the battlefield, in the air, or at sea can be a matter of life and death. Successfully countering misinformation can make the difference between mission success or failure.
But as cyber threats increase, so do the companies who work to counter these threats.
One of the challenge areas for the 2025 DIANA Programme was Information and Data Security. We invited companies that are developing innovations in data distribution and production across several domains, including quantum and post-quantum cryptography, blockchain technology, biometrics, and more.
The solution could include hardware, software, or combinations of both, and spanning from components to complete systems to allow for maximum participation.
There are 16 companies based in 10 NATO countries participating in the data information and security challenge of this year’s DIANA Programme cohort.
One of them is Factiverse AI, an Oslo based company that helps you to analyze video, audio, and news in real time and detect harmful narratives and misinformation. They were excited to get involved with DIANA to maximize their product for a dual-use case.
“Our innovation’s potential dual-use case lies in its ability to analyse large volumes of data quickly, identifying controversial statements and political misinformation for government institutions and intelligence agencies,” says Sean Jacob, Content Marketing and Community Manager for Factiverse AI.
With one click, Factiverse combs through multiple search engines and sites, 200 million science articles, 330,000 fact-checks, and multiple other databases, to direct you to the most trusted sources of information.
Over the past four months, the company has been taking part in the DIANA Programme at the Tehnopol Science and Business Park in Tallinn, Estonia. Their experience in DIANA has positioned them for success through the curriculum, networking, and collaborations.
“It is one of the best accelerators we have been part of, and in four months so far, we have learned more than if we had spent two years figuring out the industry,” says Jacob. “We’ve learned a lot about navigating complex procurement challenges, and the mentality of potential users and customers in the defence and government sectors. Also, because of the exposure and NATO DIANA brand, we had over 35 venture capital investors reach out to us in just a few months.”
Using life’s blueprints to safely store data
Members of the BioSistemika team attended the DIANA-hosted Defence and Security Days in Krakow in February 2025. (BioSistemika Photo)
Another innovator addressing the the data information and security challenge is BioSistemika. Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, this company is focused on secure data storage using their innovative platform DATANA, which stores digital data in synthetic DNA.
“As the world generates more and more information, we’re rapidly outgrowing the capacity, durability, and security of traditional storage technologies,” says Luka Zupančič, DATANA Business Development Manager.
Like the DNA in all organisms, synthetic DNA can store vast amounts of data in a tiny physical footprint. You could think of it as being capable of fitting an entire data centre into the size of a sugar cube.
“It’s also remarkably stable and secure, able to preserve information for centuries and protect it from modern cyber threats,” says Zupančič. “From geospatial data and archives to sensitive encryption keys, we’re already helping customers safeguard their most valuable information in a format that’s both tamper-proof and built to last.”
Seeing the potential dual-use case for DATANA, the Slovenian Ministry of Defence encouraged the team to apply to DIANA.
“For defence, where secure, durable, and covert data storage and transfer are critical, DNA offers unmatched advantages,” says Zupančič. “It’s the only medium that allows physical data to be stored and transported “in plain sight” without adversaries being able to detect, access, or decode it.”
BioSistemika has been participating in DIANA’s Accelerator Programme at The Gate Brainport Eindhoven in The Netherlands.
“Our experience with DIANA has been exceptional. It gave us access to a sector that previously felt closed off,” says Zupančič. “As a company rooted in the civilian market, we had limited understanding of how the defence world operates. DIANA changed that. It helped us connect with the right stakeholders, shape a defence-focused business strategy, and understand procurement from the inside out.”
End of Phase 1 and innovator next steps
In June, the innovators in Phase 1 of the 2025 cohort, including Factiverse AI and Biosistemika, will wrap up their time in the DIANA Accelerator Programme. Some of the innovators in this cohort may be selected to be part of Phase 2, where they will receive additional funding, one-on-one mentoring, more exposure opportunities to end users, and tailored connections to potential capital sources.
Regardless, they join DIANA’s Alumni Network, where important networking and collaborations can continue as they grow their businesses.
June also marks the time when DIANA’s Challenge Call will be released for the next cohort of innovators. This year will feature 10 challenge areas, doubling the five in 2025.
For Factiverse, they are looking forward to continuing to enhance their service and make connections.
“We’re focusing on onboarding new customers and further enhancing our capabilities to tackle the evolving landscape of information integrity,” says Jacob.
Biosistemika is pursuing an opportunity with the Slovenian Ministry of Defence, through a letter of commitment, to pilot DATANA for secure, long-term storage of critical defence data.
“Looking ahead, we’re focused on scaling up our encoding throughput and storage capacity, paving the way for broader adoption across both civilian and defence applications where secure, tamper-proof, and durable data storage is more critical than ever,” says Zupančič.
Importance of dual-use innovation
As Factiverse and Biosistemika demonstrate, there are growing opportunities for dual use technologies. Their solutions, along with the other solutions proposed by DIANA innovators, not only have the ability to be both commercially viable and used in a defence setting, but also benefits society as a whole.
To find out more about all the innovators in DIANA’s Data and Information Security challenge, please visit:
https://www.diana.nato.int/about-diana/2025-cohort-of-companies.html