The Ministry of Economy and Innovation informs that the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic Region (DIANA) has launched a call for startups and innovators to apply for the Challenge Programme. This year, startups and all innovators can participate in three pilot challenges focusing on energy resilience, secure information sharing and information gathering.
"This is a unique opportunity for startups not only to get financial support and access to a network of experts but also to raise the country's profile internationally. Over the past year, the value of Lithuanian start-ups has grown 17-fold and last year alone they managed to attract €238 million in investment, bringing their total value to €10 billion. Therefore, I have no doubt that the involvement of young Lithuanian companies in the programme would contribute to strengthening the country's technological advancement," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
Energy resilience and secure information sharing are key challenge areas for NATO DIANA 2023. The third challenge identified in the programme is sensing and surveillance, which consists of improved information gathering in the undersea coastal zone, including new methods for mapping the seabed, monitoring undersea infrastructure, tracking man-made objects and marine life, and assessing the impacts of climate change.
"This programme seeks more resilient and efficient energy solutions to meet energy needs and looks at ways to create a safe and secure information environment. The ten startups selected for each challenge area will receive a support package worth EUR 100,000 each, and I believe that the participation of Lithuanian companies in the programme will contribute to achieving these strategic goals," said Erika Kuročkina, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation.
Companies accepted into the DIANA accelerator programme receive grants for the development and demonstration of new technologies, access to a network of investors, as well as to more than 10 accelerators and over 90 technology centres. It also provides expert support and opportunities to test the technology in a real-world environment and to bring the resulting product to NATO.
Companies can apply until Sat. For more information on the call, visit https://diana.nato.int.