Janus Allies Consortium Welcomes New Innovators to NATO’s DIANA Programme
The Janus Allies consortium, in collaboration with the UK Defence Innovation’s Defence and Security Accelerator, has announced a new group of innovative firms selected for the 2026 NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Programme. This year has seen a remarkable 3,680 submissions from NATO member states, reflecting a heightened interest in advancing defence capabilities.
Competitive Selection Process
The cohort for the 2026 DIANA Programme was chosen through a rigorous evaluation process that identified them as being in the top 4% of applicants from across the Alliance. This highlights the competitiveness and effectiveness of the initiative, which aims to foster dual-use innovations that can benefit both civilian and military sectors.
Meet the New Cohort
Eight companies have been selected to join the Janus UK Accelerator Programme, representing a diverse range of expertise:
- LSMedical (Estonia)
- Slipstream Design (United Kingdom)
- FOSSA Systems (Spain)
- Tern AI Inc. (USA)
- Testnor AS (Norway)
- Oledcomm (France)
- SDQ Solutions Canada (Canada)
- CX2 Inc. (USA)
Statements from Leadership
Tanya Suarez, the Founder and CEO of IoT Tribe, which leads the Janus consortium, expressed enthusiasm for the new cohort. She emphasised the importance of improving interoperability and maintaining operational advantages in contested environments, asserting that these innovations are essential for the UK and NATO’s strategic ambitions.
Anita Friend, Head of UKDI-DASA, also welcomed the new participants, underscoring the collaborative potential of their technologies in addressing vital defence challenges. She highlighted the importance of this partnership in facilitating dual-use technologies that enhance security across the Alliance.
Focus Areas for Development
Over the next six months, the chosen companies will collaborate closely with the Janus team and various partners to refine their solutions. They will engage in a combination of in-person and virtual workshops, lectures, and mentoring designed to streamline their path to defence procurement and expand their commercial opportunities. The 2026 cohort will focus on ten critical priority areas, including:
- Energy and Power
- Advanced Communication Technologies
- Contested Electromagnetic Environments
- Human Resilience and Biotechnologies
- Critical Infrastructure and Logistics
- Operations in Extreme Environments
- Maritime Operations
- Resilient Space Operations
- Autonomy and Unmanned Systems
- Data Assisted Decision Making
Background
NATO’s DIANA initiative represents a strategic effort to harness cutting-edge technologies that meet the complex and evolving needs of modern defence. It aims to propel the Alliance into a leading position in global defence innovation, fostering collaboration between military and commercial sectors. The introduction of this new cohort is a testament to ongoing efforts to fortify the Alliance’s technological edge in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Source: official statements, news agencies, and public reports.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-uk-accelerator-welcomes-eight-companies-into-the-2026-nato-diana-programme
