How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 400000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2025-07-11T12:00:00Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the DIANA — Challenge Call?

DIANA — Challenge Call is funded by Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

What are DIANA — Challenge Call's eligibility criterias?

Company must provide legal name, registration, headquarters, and DUNS/UEI number. Universities and non-profit groups are not eligible. Technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 or above preferred, but lower TRLs may be considered.

DIANA — Challenge Call

Last Update: June 6, 2025

Canada

Accelerates dual-use technology solutions for critical NATO challenges

DIANA — Challenge Call at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $100,000 to $400,000

Timeline

Closing date : July 11, 2025

Financing Type

Other Support

Grant and Funding

Expert Advice

Eligible Industries

All industries

Grant Providers

Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Status

Open

Overview of the DIANA — Challenge Call program

The DIANA — Challenge Call offers competitive funding of up to 400,000 euros for companies developing dual-use deep tech solutions that address critical defence, security, and resilience challenges identified by NATO. Eligible activities include research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies within ten challenge areas such as energy, advanced communications, human resilience, and autonomous systems.

Financing terms and conditions

Phase 1: Selected innovators receive funding of 100,000 euros to develop their solution.
Phase 2: Selected innovators may receive up to an additional 300,000 euros for further development and demonstration.

Eligible projects & activities

Development of resilient energy production and management technologies for civil and military applications.
Development of advanced communication solutions for robust and secure networks in civil and operational contexts.
Design of systems and analytical tools ensuring operational resilience in contested electromagnetic environments.
Creation of innovations in biotechnology and health devices aimed at enhancing resilience and human performance in extreme or hostile settings.
Deployment of logistical and technological solutions to improve resilience and efficiency of critical infrastructures and supply chains.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 392,000

Portable solar microgrid for rapid deployment in emergency operations

$ 389,500

AI-driven anomaly detection system for power grid cybersecurity

$ 399,500

Wearable health biosensor for responders in extreme environments

$ 390,000

Drone-based logistics for resilient supply chains in disasters

$ 398,000

Decision-support analytics for electromagnetic operations in contested zones

$ 399,000

Development of self-healing mesh networks for critical infrastructure security

Eligibility criteria of the DIANA — Challenge Call program

The applicant must be a company, providing legal name, place of registration, headquarters, ownership/control attestations, and a DUNS/UEI number.
Early-stage start-ups or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited defence and security experience are particularly encouraged, but all companies meeting the basic criteria may apply.
The proposed technology or product should be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above, though lower TRL solutions with disruptive potential or higher TRL solutions requiring adaptation will also be considered.
The applicant must agree to the terms and conditions of the DIANA Challenge Programme's competitive selection process.

Who is eligible?

Start-ups developing innovative technologies
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with dual-use technology solutions
Established private companies within NATO member countries that meet eligibility requirements

Who is not eligible

Universities and non-profit groups.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies located in NATO member states (across the NATO Alliance).

How to apply to the DIANA — Challenge Call program

Step 1: Review Challenge StatementsExamine the ten challenge areas for the current DIANA Challenge Call to identify the most relevant topic for your innovation.
Step 2: Prepare Proposal ContentGather business identification information, including legal name, registration details, headquarters, and DUNS/UEI number.
Complete the Short Form Proposal (Quad Chart) focused on the technical solution.
Prepare the Long Form Proposal, including technical, dual-use, adoption potential, and commercial viability information.
Step 3: Submit ProposalCarefully follow the provided submission instructions and use the concise proposal templates provided by DIANA.
Submit your proposal by the specified deadline (e.g., 11 July, 2025, 12:00 UTC).
Step 4: Short Form Proposal EvaluationWait for DIANA evaluators to score all eligible short form proposals against technical criteria, including alignment with the challenge, validity, feasibility, dual-use potential, and coherence.
Step 5: Long Form Proposal Submission and EvaluationIf invited, submit a Long Form Proposal for further review.
The long form proposal will be evaluated based on technical, defence and security, commercial and adoption, and general criteria.
Step 6: Virtual Panel SessionIf shortlisted, prepare and deliver a live presentation of your proposal to an evaluation panel comprising technical, defence/security, and commercial experts.
Step 7: Receive Outcome NotificationAwait official communication from DIANA regarding the outcome of your application.

Additional information

The proposed strategic axes and challenges are specifically defined according to the needs of the Alliance and express a context of dual-use (civil and defense).
The call explicitly encourages the submission of innovative technological solutions that exceed the provided examples.
The selection of projects will be guided by principles of responsible innovation to promote the ethical and accountable development of technologies.
Market and growth data demonstrate that the sought solutions aim for integration into markets with high commercial potential and civil/military impact.