The world is spinning faster and faster. Even the military cannot escape this trend. In order not to have to shoot with old iron in this fast-moving world, innovation is needed. International competitions and conferences are the ideal platform for this. Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is the name of the competition with which NATO wants to win over new and creative ideas. The program is currently in a test phase. However, the pilot project is already revealing great potential. More than 1,200 applicants took up the challenge. Under the four main topics of energy resilience, sensor technology and monitoring, and secure information exchange, the task was to present solutions and novel approaches in each case. It is not only the international heavyweights in defense technology who are competing for the well over 100,000 euros in funding. The field of applicants is diverse, ranging from freshly founded start-ups to major corporations. A panel of experts from NATO and various industry partners will judge the submissions. The DIANA team works directly with the most promising candidates. They receive support in developing their products and making business decisions.
Once DIANA is fully operational in 2025, there will be multiple competitions annually.”My team and I are delighted with the overwhelming response and positive attitude of Alliance innovators to DIANA’s first three challenges,” said DIANA CEO Professor Deeph Chana.”It’s a testament to the hard work of the DIANA team – of which I am very proud – and to the significant talent pool we know exists within the Alliance.”
In addition to competitions within NATO, international meetings and conferences also provide the ideal platform to gather innovation, focus energies and create synergies. On October 9, 2023, a pre-event of the Berlin Security Conference will be held in Munich on the topic of “Implementing Military Research Results in Armament Projects.”Captain zur See, Stephan Mauritz, Head of the Department “Goal Setting and Innovation” at the Bundeswehr Planning Office, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Koch, Chief Scientist and Head Sensor Data & Information Fusion, Fraunhofer FKIE/ University Bonn and Prof. Dr. Rafaela Kraus, Vice President for Entrepreneurship University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich will discuss the complex of topics in detail and in depth. Dr. Eva Charlotte Proll will lead through the evening.
