Five Dutch companies have been selected for the NATO programme Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). This programme supports start-ups working on new and innovative technologies suitable for both defence and civilian use (dual-use). The Netherlands Enterprise Agency supported these companies in their application.
Selected Dutch Companies
We congratulate the Dutch entries selected for the NATO DIANA programme:
- Blue Team Intelligence focuses within the challenge of data-assisted decision making on providing worldwide high-resolution insights into soil mobility.
- Elitac Wearables participates in the challenge of human resilience and biotechnologies. The company develops solutions that reduce cognitive load and increase situational awareness.
- Within the maritime operations challenge, MAPS Messaging contributes with secure, real-time data exchange for maritime operations.
- Oceano Robotics also focuses on maritime operations. They specialize in underwater monitoring and surveillance of submarine communication and power cables.
- Finally, Sinteg Systems develops an inspection system for adhesive bonds in composite materials within the challenge of operations in extreme environments, which can be used directly on the original location.
Calls 2026: Safety and Technological Innovation
NATO DIANA selected a total of 150 companies from the 32 NATO countries, out of over 3500 applications for the 2026 call. Each selected company receives a subsidy of €100,000 to further develop their technologies. The calls focused on 10 so-called challenges:
- Energy & Power
- Advanced Communication Technologies
- Contested Electromagnetic Environments
- Human Resilience and Biotechnologies
- Operations in Extreme Environments
- Maritime Operations
- Resilient Space Operations
- Critical Infrastructure and Logistics
- Autonomy and Unmanned Systems
- Data Assisted Decision Making
Next Steps: Linking to Accelerator Site
The selected companies for the DIANA programme are linked to one of the 13 accelerator sites within the transatlantic network. Since 2025, the Brainport Innovation and Technology for Security (BITS) Accelerator is officially part of this network.
Partners in BITS include the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate, the Province of North Brabant, Brainport Development, and the Brabant Development Agency (BOM).
The winning Dutch companies receive not only advanced testing opportunities via BITS but also workshops and guidance through the accelerator location. This helps start-ups to operate successfully within defence markets.
Support from RVO
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) supports entrepreneurs interested in the NATO DIANA programme. This includes providing information about the application process, reviewing proposals, and organizing practice pitches.
If you want to stay informed about developments in NATO DIANA and support from RVO, please register via our interest form (under ‘Other (European) programmes’).
Learn More?
Would you like more information about NATO DIANA and how to participate? Then see:
Questions?
Questions about the NATO DIANA programme? Please contact our advisors from Team IRIS via teamiris@rvo.nl.
