Estonia is a well-known startup haven in Europe. Now, it is transforming into an innovation hotbed for NATO’s latest technological advances.
After the initial success of the DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) program in Estonia, the organisation has announced a second batch of seven companies joining the programme in Tallinn. This represents approximately 10% of all teams chosen across the Alliance, showing Estonia’s growing influence in the Defence Technology and Cybersecurity sectors.
The selected companies will each receive initial funding of €100,000 from NATO DIANA, with top performers eligible for an additional €300,000 in the programme’s second phase. This investment opportunity comes with access to over 180 testing centres across the NATO alliance, specialised defence and business networking programmes, a Pan-Alliance mentor network and critical infrastructure testing facilities.
Securing the future
The 2025 cohort in Estonia includes innovative companies from across Europe:
- Scaleout (Sweden)
- Factiverse (Norway)
- Resquant, IS-Wireless, and Microamp Solutions (Poland)
- Telearmy and Wayren (Estonia)
Estonian innovators are arriving well-equipped. Telearmy’s remote teledriving technology, already proven on Ukrainian frontlines, enables long-distance, high-speed vehicle control using Starlink or Radiolink. Wayren is advancing critical communications technology for challenging environments like mines and battlefields.
The acceleration programme in Estonia is supported by an impressive network of testing facilities and institutions, including TalTech, University of Tartu, Foundation CR14, National Defence College, Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, Estonian Aviation Academy and Metrosert.
The government also provides full support — Estonia has its own Defence Industry Fund, which recently doubled to €100 million. Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo emphasised the strategic importance of dual-use technologies: “The NATO DIANA accelerator provides an international platform where startup businesses and the research-intensive defence industry converge, driving economic growth while enhancing security.”
Other accelerators alongside the one in Estonia are also operating in Denmark, Italy, Czechia, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Canada, and the USA.
When we say defence, we mean business. If you want to invest in a more secure world, get in touch through our e-Consulting service and let’s find you the right investment opportunity.
