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Dual-Use Deep Tech: NATO's Hunt for the Next Generation of Foundational Technologies

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:35:04 GMT
Dual-Use Deep Tech: NATO's Hunt for the Next Generation of Foundational Technologies

In a world where the lines between civilian and military technology are increasingly blurred, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is embarking on a pivotal mission: to harness the power of dual-use deep tech. This strategic hunt for the next generation of foundational technologies is not merely about maintaining a military edge; it's about future-proofing the Alliance against a backdrop of rapid innovation and escalating geopolitical competition. Modern conflicts have demonstrated that wars are now fought with technologies that have astonishingly short innovation cycles, making agile adoption a cornerstone of modern defense.

The New Frontier: Emerging and Disruptive Technologies

The nature of warfare is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by what NATO terms Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs). These are not just incremental upgrades to existing systems but foundational shifts with the power to redefine defense and security landscapes. Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, quantum computing, and biotechnology are no longer the stuff of science fiction; they are active elements on the modern battlefield, changing the way NATO and its adversaries operate.

Recognizing that global competitors are actively investing in these areas, NATO has acknowledged that its long-held technological superiority is being challenged. To maintain its deterrence and defense capabilities, the Alliance is shifting its focus from developing specific, purely military platforms to fostering a broad ecosystem of innovation. This involves a strategic pivot towards dual-use technologies—innovations with both commercial and defense applications.

NATO's Innovation Engine: DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund

At the heart of this strategic pivot are two key initiatives: the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and the NATO Innovation Fund.

DIANA: The Alliance's Accelerator

Launched to find and accelerate dual-use innovation capacity across the Alliance, DIANA acts as a bridge between the agile, fast-paced world of tech startups and the complex needs of NATO's defense and security apparatus. It provides companies with the resources, networks, and guidance to develop "deep technologies"—cutting-edge solutions born from scientific discovery or engineering innovation—to solve critical defense challenges.

DIANA's approach is non-prescriptive; instead of dictating specific solutions, it poses broad, outcome-focused challenges to the brightest minds in the commercial sector. Innovators selected to participate in DIANA's accelerator program receive grant funding, access to a vast network of over 180 test centers and 17 accelerator sites across North America and Europe, and invaluable mentorship from scientists, engineers, industry partners, and military end-users.

The NATO Innovation Fund

Complementing DIANA's efforts is the €1 billion NATO Innovation Fund, the world's first multi-sovereign venture capital fund. This fund makes strategic investments in startups developing dual-use technologies critical to Allied security, ensuring that promising innovations have the capital needed to scale and reach maturity.

The Priority Tech Areas: NATO's Wishlist

NATO's innovation activities are concentrated on nine priority technology areas that hold the potential for significant breakthroughs:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data: AI is a game-changer, transforming everything from intelligence analysis and decision-making to navigating autonomous vehicles. In Ukraine, for instance, AI-driven systems have been used to analyze vast amounts of satellite and drone imagery to monitor troop movements. NATO is also using AI-enabled platforms to identify and counter misinformation campaigns.
  • Autonomous Systems: From unmanned drones in the air and at sea to ground vehicles, autonomy allows for high-risk tasks to be performed without endangering human personnel.
  • Quantum Technologies: This field promises revolutionary advances in computing, sensing, and secure communications, which could render current encryption methods obsolete.
  • Biotechnology and Human Enhancement: These technologies offer the potential to protect soldiers from disease, enhance their resilience, and improve medical treatment.
  • Space: The final frontier is now a critical operational domain. NATO is seeking solutions for resilient space operations, including asset protection and monitoring.
  • Hypersonic Systems: The development of weapons that can travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 presents new challenges for detection and defense.
  • Novel Materials and Manufacturing: Advances in this area can lead to lighter, stronger, and more resilient equipment and platforms.
  • Energy and Propulsion: To increase operational endurance and reduce reliance on vulnerable supply chains, NATO is looking for new battery technologies, energy storage solutions, and alternative propulsion systems.
  • Next-Generation Communications: Secure, high-speed communication is vital for modern military operations. The Alliance is focused on leveraging 5G and subsequent generations of network technologies.

DIANA's 2026 Challenge: A Call to Innovators

On June 2, 2025, DIANA launched ten new challenges aimed at discovering the next wave of dual-use deep technologies. Innovators have until July 11, 2025, to submit proposals addressing critical needs in areas such as:

  • Energy and Power: Ensuring reliable power in contested environments.
  • Advanced Communication Technologies: Enhancing the resilience of data exchange.
  • Contested Electromagnetic Environments: Ensuring systems can function despite jamming or interference.
  • Human Resilience and Biotechnologies: Protecting the well-being of personnel.
  • Critical Infrastructure and Logistics: Securing supply chains and essential infrastructure.
  • Operations in Extreme Environments: Enabling effective and safe operations in harsh conditions.
  • Maritime and Resilient Space Operations: Improving situational awareness and protecting assets.
  • Autonomy and Data-Assisted Decision Making: Leveraging AI and data for faster, better decisions.

Successful applicants will receive €100,000 in initial funding and will join DIANA's six-month accelerator program starting in January 2026.

Overcoming Hurdles: The Need for Speed and Collaboration

This new approach requires more than just funding and new programs; it demands a cultural shift. Traditional defense procurement cycles, which can stretch for years, are ill-suited for the rapid pace of technological change. Recognizing this, NATO is developing a "Rapid Adoption Action Plan" to overhaul these frameworks, shortening timelines from years to months or even weeks.

The success of this strategy hinges on forging strong, institutional partnerships between government, the private sector, and academia. The innovations that will define future security are currently being developed in commercial labs and startups. By embracing a "cooperation by design" model—jointly developing digital architectures and infrastructure from the ground up—NATO can bridge the gap between its strategic ambitions and its technological capabilities.

As the digital battlefield becomes a reality, initiatives like DIANA are not just a strategic advantage but a necessity. By actively hunting for and nurturing the next generation of foundational, dual-use technologies, NATO is not only adapting to the future of conflict but is actively working to shape it, ensuring the continued security and resilience of its one billion citizens.

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