KAARI KINK: How startups can collaborate with NATO
A glimpse into the various initiatives that companies can benefit from knowing.
It can be challenging for startups and defence companies to understand the landscape and identify the opportunities that should be on their radar. Many opportunities also often emerge organically as a result of strong relationships with national defence forces or participation in relevant programmes. Nevertheless, this piece offers a first glimpse into the various initiatives that companies can benefit from knowing.
As someone who has moved to NATO from the startup ecosystem, I’ve come to appreciate the scale and breadth of activity across the various NATO command structures, agencies and affiliated bodies. There is no single entry point to NATO and it would be a mistake to treat NATO like a monolith.
NATO DIANA - in many ways a first point of contact for startups, NATO DIANA provides an intense 6-month acceleration, connecting defence companies with nations and end users to help them tailor their technologies to meet NATO’s critical capability needs.
As a DIANA innovator, companies benefit from €100,000 in contractual funding, access to over 200 test centres and a network of 800+ mentors across the Alliance, and unparalleled exposure to NATO’s defence ecosystem, end users, and industry partners. Innovators also have the opportunity to participate in operational exercises (OpEx). This allows companies to validate solutions alongside military users. Companies also gain visibility at international events where solutions can be showcased to nations, commands, and decision‑makers.
DIANA innovators also benefit from the Rapid Adoption Service framework that enables nations to directly award prototyping contracts to DIANA innovators without long procurement processes. This enables significantly shorter adoption cycles and is a unique value proposition that NATO DIANA offers to companies wishing to sell directly to nations.
Applications to the DIANA Programme are challenge-based and will open again in the first half of 2026 so keep an eye on our LinkedIn.
NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)
This is a standalone venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allies deploying €1 billion+ in deep tech. Typical first checks are up to €15 million from Seed through Series B. NIF is backing deep tech companies addressing challenges in defence, security, and resilience.
Allied Command Transformation (ACT)
One of two strategic commands in NATO which defines the future military context, identifying challenges and opportunities to maintain a warfighting edge. ACT has several initiatives targeting innovative companies addressing real-world operational problems.
Task Force X with the goal of quickly adopting and integrating new technologies into defence capabilities. The first Task Force X focused on conducting maritime uncrewed systems experimentation in the Baltic Sea. Here’s an interesting overview of how the Task Force X concept has evolved. It is now moving from testing to adoption in Phase II.
The Innovation Challenge is ACT’s call for innovative solutions to a scenario-based challenge. Held twice annually, each iteration of the challenge centers on a unique problem set. The last Innovation Challenge addressed unique medical challenges that drone-dominated battlefield poses. Selected participants will present their solutions to a jury, with winners getting small prize money and an opportunity to continue working with ACT toward rapid prototyping and field testing.
NATO’s Innovation Ranges are designed to facilitate the rapid adoption of innovative technologies that can address critical capability shortfalls within the alliance. This initiative was announced last year as part of NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan (RAAP).
The first such demonstration was run in Finland last December as part of NATO’s Task Force X- Eastern Flank Deterrence Line.
In addition to ACT, we also have Allied Command Operations (ACO), ACO is NATO’s strategic command responsible for the planning and execution of all Alliance military operations.
They are organising several NATO’s major operational‑level and flagship exercises, like Steadfast Defender.
They are also leading the Task Force Maven, which is NATO’s initiative to integrate AI-enabled systems, specifically the Maven Smart System, into operational planning and exercises. The Maven Smart System was brought to market together with Palantir. They’ve held Industry Days for AI/ML solutions related to NATO’s operational environment. I recommend following their LinkedIn for future opportunities.
NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is NATO’s technology and cyber hub. It provides NATO-wide IT services and procurement of communications systems for the Alliance.
Industry can view NCIA’s current opportunities, contract awards, and future opportunities here
Companies can also register to NCIA’s e-Procurement platform here and upload their capability statement here
NCIA also organises NATO’s biggest technology conference & expo NATO Edge available for the startups, industry and NATO decision makers alike. In 2026 it will take place in November in Turkey.
NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) - NSPA is NATO’s shared procurement and logistics agency that helps member countries jointly buy, operate, and sustain military equipment and services. NSPA operates on a no profit, no loss principle and is customer-funded. Customers (nations or groups of nations) decide what they want and whether to use NSPA as the contracting route. Therefore, as the pull comes from the nations’ side, engaging and getting sponsors on a national level is crucial.
You can explore the catalogue of capabilities NSPA provides from here
Operational Exercises/Experimentations -these allow NATO and Allies to test and validate concepts, procedures, systems and tactics in realistic operational environments. By working alongside military end users, they are one of the most useful methods for innovators to get an in-depth understanding of operating context, interoperability requirements and candid assessment on their solution. Many of DIANA’s innovators have come away with invaluable experience and follow-on opportunities to work with nations.
Companies can access OpExs through national or NATO sponsorship. OpExs vary in domain, challenge areas and capabilities tested, for example:
DiBax is designed to improve interoperability across domains through advanced communications.
The NATO Innovation Continuum aims to accelerate the adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies within the Alliance in a series of 4 events.
Vigorous Warrior is NATO’s military medical exercise organised this year in Estonia.
Locked Shields in Tallinn, Estonia is one of the biggest live-fire cyber defence exercises.
REPMUS and Dynamics Messenger focus on the integration of unmanned systems and innovation in real-world naval environments.
Centre of Excellences are nationally or multi-nationally funded institutions accredited by NATO. Although not part of the NATO command structure, they are part of a wider framework supporting NATO Command Arrangements. They are important hubs of in-depth knowledge and often organise experimentations or trials for testing technologies, such as Vigorous Warrior, Locked Shields or Arctic interoperability initiative HEIMDALL.