NATO

On Monday, 19 June, NATO DIANA launched its first three pilot challenges. Applications are now open to world-class innovators who have exceptional ideas to help solve dual-use critical defence and security problems.

Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)

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DIANA’s Pilot Challenge call focuses on the following three areas:

Energy Resilience: 

In an uncertain and changing world, there is an urgent need for more reliable, resilient, and efficient energy solutions – particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters or in conflict zones. Climate change and its consequences will only make that need greater.

For this challenge, DIANA is therefore seeking technology solutions that enable the modular design of microgrids that can meet supply demands reliably. Of interest are technologies and systems that are capable of scaling and that are interoperable with other similar systems; renewable power generation; power storage; hardware and software for adaptive and intelligent power conditioning and management; and technologies for the detection and protection of the physical system and components from malicious cyber-attack.

Download the Problem Statement here 

Secure Information Sharing:

By secure information sharing, we typically mean the ability to exchange documents and other static content with others safely, without the risk of interference by malicious actors. However, while protecting document-based information transfer in an office environment is important, it is a simpler task than securing multiple forms of information flow when working in the field or on the move, as is often the case with first-responders, peacekeeping forces and the military.

For this challenge, DIANA is looking for ways of creating a secure and trusted information environment – with the emphasis on live data streams such as those used to provide near real-time video, augmented reality feeds, digital radio and more. Of particular interest are hardware and software solutions that operate over open networks and that can function in ‘austere’ or ‘disadvantaged’ environments.

Download the Problem Statement here 

Sensing and Surveillance:

Coastal waters are vital to the economic and security interests of the countries whose borders they touch, and critical to all who rely on them for commerce, transportation, recreation, and food, for example. Yet, even today, our understanding of the undersea environment is limited – not least because many standard methods of observation don’t work well underwater and because the marine environment is difficult to access and to work in for extended periods.

For this challenge, DIANA is seeking components and systems for sensing and information gathering in subsurface coastal zones. Applications of interest might include, but are not limited to, novel techniques and/or advanced capabilities for seafloor mapping, undersea infrastructure monitoring, manmade object and marine-life tracking, climate-change-effects sensing, and patterns-of-life visualisations.

Download the Problem Statement here

The call for proposals will be open until 25 August 2023.  In Phase one of the DIANA accelerator program, approximately 30 innovators will receive grant funding of $150,000 CAD/ € 100,000 EUR starting in late 2023. At the end of Phase One, a smaller number of companies will be offered an additional grant of up to $450,000 CAD/ € 300,000 EUR and be invited to participate in Phase Two of the accelerator programme called ‘Scale’. During this second six months, companies will focus on demonstrating their technological solution, developing transition strategies, and working with investors and end users to identify pathways to adoption.

Once DIANA achieves full operating capability in 2025, DIANA will run up to ten challenge programmes per year and have the capacity to interact with hundreds of innovators each year.

The application portal can be accessed via DIANA’s official website.

Through the web link and the DIANA LinkedIn page, you can also find additional information related to the initiative and stay notified on all of DIANA’s publications and updates.

The Department of National Defence is looking forward to seeing our Canadian Innovator Community actively participating in the NATO DIANA program and wishes you luck in this process. 

Note – any questions related to DIANA challenges or eligibility should be directed to NATO DIANA via DIANA’s official website, linked here. 

Canada is a signatory to a NATO Standardization Agreement which provides descriptions of types of naval and non-naval vessels for use by planners, operators and analysts. A naval replenishment oiler, defined in the guide as an auxiliary vessel and written per naval writing convention as "auxiliary oiler replenishment" is designated as an AOR. The definitions and comments explain terms are identified in the following document.

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In June, 2021, at the NATO Annual Summit, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the creation of DIANA – the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. In April 2022, NATO member foreign ministers approved DIANA’s charter along with the creation of a 1 billion euro innovation fund.

According to NATO, the program “provides dual-use innovators in NATO countries with funding and a fast track to adapt their solutions for defence and security needs.” “Dual-use” refers to the development or adaptation of civilian software and technology for defence and security purposes. The goal of DIANA is to provide funding and resources that can help researchers and start-ups accelerate their work. 

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The NATO Communication and Information (NCI) Agency is transitioning to the new NCI Agency online eProcurement tool – Neo, in order to facilitate the operationalization of the 2019 BOA Procedure revision. As such, the NCIA is kindly requesting all the companies within the Alliance nations which have an existing BOA with NCIA to apply for the new BOA.   To apply for the new BOA, the Canadian companies first need to register in Neo via the NCI Agency website, following the procedures indicated in the following link: https://lnkd.in/gXAwJa7S  

The Canadian companies that already hold a BOA have until 30 June 2023 to register in Neo and submit their new BOA application. Provided these conditions are met, the existing BOA for all Canadian companies will remain valid until the new BOA is signed. The current BOA Holders who do not apply for the new BOA will have their BOAs de-activated, but can re-apply for the BOA Programme at any time as per the general procedures.   The terms and conditions applicable to the BOAs can be found under the BOA section of the NCI Agency’s website. https://lnkd.in/gHe76PHS

Defence Minister Anita Anand announced Friday a proposal to establish an innovation hub in Halifax for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM), on behalf of Canada, will be hosting the Fall 2021 NATO Innovation Challenge – The invisible threat: Countering cognitive warfare. The theme of this pitch-style event is understanding and protecting the cognitive domain.

NATO is looking for tools and measures to identify, assess and protect against attacks on NATO forces and NATO Allies in the cognitive domain.

Successful innovators will pitch their best solutions and tools to a panel of experts from NATO countries.

On top of international exposure and cash prizes for the best solutions, there will be special recognition for the top “Made in Canada” solution. In order to be considered for the additional Canadian prize, a subsequent eligibility criteria will be applied. For more information on eligibility, visit the IDEaS Web site.

Tap into an engaged audience that could lead to meaningful contacts with the international community!

To apply, visit the NATO Innovation Challenge Page.

Submit your entry by Thursday, October 21, 2021.

The IDEaS Team