Ukrainian defence startups gain access to NATO DIANA grants and test centres

What was signed

Ukraine and NATO have signed a document that opens up the programmes of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) to Ukrainian companies and startups. The head of Ukraine’s Mission to NATO, Alyona Hetmanchuk, announced it.

She said Ukraine became the first and so far only NATO partner country to sign such a document. “A very promising track. I’m glad we managed to formalise and launch it,” Hetmanchuk said.

What it gives Ukrainian developers

The document covers several areas of cooperation:

• Challenges and grants. Ukrainian companies and startups will be able to take part in DIANA challenges and compete for NATO grant funding.
• Test centres. Defence entrepreneurs gain access to more than 200 specialised test centres across NATO countries, where products can be tested in real or near-real conditions.
• Investors. Access opens to the NATO DIANA Capital Network, a network of vetted private investors created by the accelerator, helping promising developers find capital to scale up.
• Rapid adoption. Ukrainians will be able to use the Rapid Adoption Service, set up to speed the development and adoption of DIANA solutions by the Alliance and allies.

What DIANA is

DIANA is a NATO programme that supports companies developing dual-use technologies, from sensors and communications to energy and autonomous systems. The accelerator works through a network of partner accelerators and test centres in member states, runs annual challenge calls and helps winners enter the defence procurement market.

For Ukraine, whose defence industry has gained unique combat experience during the full-scale war, especially in drones and electronic warfare, access to this infrastructure means a chance to certify and test its solutions to NATO standards and to find partners among allies.

Not the first step

This is not the only recent step in defence-industrial cooperation with the Alliance. On 22 October Ukraine joined the security cooperation partnership of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), opening new opportunities for defence procurement from Ukrainian manufacturers and strengthening Ukraine–NATO cooperation in the defence industry.

Why it matters

Ukrainian arms makers have many developments but often lack funding and struggle to enter allied markets. DIANA grants, test ranges and its investor network could shorten the path from prototype to serial production, while testing to NATO standards could make it easier for Alliance armies to buy Ukrainian products.

What next

Specific terms, such as challenge timelines, applicant requirements and how to access test centres, are usually published by NATO DIANA on its official website. Ukrainian teams should follow announcements from the accelerator and from Ukraine’s Mission to NATO.