105 Accelerating Defence Innovation: How NATO DIANA Connects Startups, Technologies, and Defence Needs

How can startups and emerging technologies contribute to the future of defence?

Technological innovation is becoming an increasingly important factor in the development of military capabilities. But how do new ideas move from research and early-stage concepts into technologies that can support real defence needs? This episode of the Military Innovations podcast series focuses on NATO DIANA: NATO’s innovation accelerator connecting startups, researchers, and innovators with defence and security challenges.

Associate Professor, Samu Rautio from the Department of Military Technology at National Defence University discuss with Kadri Tammai, NATO DIANA Regional Director, and Markus Häyhtiö, Senior Specialist from VTT’s Dual-Use LaunchPad NATO DIANA Accelerator Programme, how new technologies are identified, developed, and moved toward real-world applications.

The episode also looks at what NATO DIANA means for Finland: what opportunities it creates for Finnish companies and researchers, and how innovation can help build future defence capabilities.

Looking ahead, the episode considers which technologies may have the greatest impact on defence in the coming years, how innovation could transform military operations, and what unexpected developments may shape the future of warfare.

The episode was recorded on 27 April 2026.

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Military Innovations is a three-part podcast series that examines innovation from a military perspective: What are military innovations and how are they managed? How does the Finnish Defence Forces conduct innovation activities? What technologies are shaping the future of warfare, and what might warfare look like 10–20 years from now?