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AGH University and Krakow Technology Park to lead the Polish site of NATO defence innovation accelerator within the DIANA programme

Image of the logotypes of DIANA accelerator site

AGH University and Krakow Technology Park to lead the Polish site of NATO defence innovation accelerator within the DIANA programme

On the 14th of March 2024, a new map of NATO defence innovation accelerator sites within the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme has been published. According to the map, the AGH University of Krakow and the Krakow Technology Park (KPT) are to jointly lead the Polish site of NATO defence innovation accelerator – Krakow DIANA Accelerator.

The main areas of activity of Krakow DIANA Accelerator will be to support the implementation of acceleration programmes in terms of technological solutions required to ensure security and defence of all NATO’s allied countries. For Poland, this is an opportunity to support the technological modernisation of the defence sector and the development of companies in dual-use emerging and disruptive technologies (EDT), both for civilian and defence purposes. The business acceleration is to be mostly provided by KPT, whereas the technological acceleration and the access to research and laboratory infrastructure by the AGH University. DIANA cooperates with start-ups and companies across the Alliance selected in competitions, supporting them financially, in training and mentoring, as well as providing access to a wide network of investors and industry representatives.

The goal of the DIANA accelerator created by NATO is to connect competences of researchers, innovators, and start-ups collaborating on deep tech solutions with units in the defence and military sector. DIANA’s area of interests includes new, cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data processing, space, quantum, autonomous, information, and communication technologies, as well as biotechnology, and modern materials.

The development of technologies with the potential for the so-called dual use will allow their dynamic development, further commercialisation, and quicker adaptation by the NATO allies. The consortium of the AGH University and KPT has been established with the aim to improve the acceleration potential of Poland, and joining the DIANA network translates into an enormous opportunity to create a national innovation ecosystem drawing from the best practices of the NATO ecosystem, which already includes more than 200 affiliates within the DIANA network today.

As stated by Brig. Gen. Marcin Górka, Director of the Innovation Department at the Ministry of National Defence, Poland’s representative on DIANA’s Board of Directors: “From the very beginning of our participation in the DIANA programme, we wished for one of the accelerator’s sites to be located in Poland. This is an absolute prerequisite for our country to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities DIANA offers, by which I am by no means referring to the start-ups, innovators, as well as the Polish test centres already included in the DIANA network, but also the Polish innovation ecosystem in a broader sense, i.e. capital funds, academic centres, arms entities, and, of course, us, soldiers. I am truly delighted that the offer of the Krakow Technology Park and the AGH University has been accepted by the Board of Directors.”

As emphasised by Professor Jerzy Lis, the Rector of the AGH University: “This is a vitally significant distinction for the AGH University as well as a recognition of our scientific potential. By joining the prestigious group of NATO accelerators, together with the Krakow Technology Park we take responsibility for providing solutions at the highest level that will be crucial for security in the Alliance. We approach such challenges with the utmost seriousness. This is an opportunity to strengthen and develop key research areas for the AGH University itself. Both substantive support and mentoring from market experts are invaluable in this endeavour. At the same time, we feel that we are ready to bring the most innovative solutions emerging within the walls of our university into the DIANA programme.”

“The Krakow Technology Park is successively striving for specialisation in the area of innovation support, and we see the cooperation with NATO in the field of defence innovation as a unique opportunity for innovators. Our actions are dictated both by the belief that the so-called deep technologies give the strongest competitive advantages in business, and by the fact that the future should be built on the pillars of innovation, security, and cooperation. At KPT, we believe that investing in defence innovations is not only a strategic issue but also a responsibility to future generations,” claims Tadeusz Zaremba, president of the Krakow Technology Park Board.

According to Jacek Siewiera, Chief of the National Security Bureau, „in accordance with the international decision, the Polish Innovation Ecosystem has gained a new, extremely essential institution created based on Krakow’s AGH University and Krakow Technology Park – Krakow DIANA Accelerator, part of NATO DIANA defence innovation accelerator. The National Security Bureau has consistently supported this idea, as the modern society depends on whether we will be able to use the potential of R&D units and technology parks to our advantage, and on how effectively we will transfer and use this knowledge to enhance the national security. Selecting Poland as one of the accelerator’s sites will allow for the improvement of the cooperation between start-ups, investors, defence sector entities, academia, and the end user. The allied cooperation in the defence sector constitutes a basis for the operation of modern business models, but it also will have a positive influence on the development and implementation of state-of-the-art technologies and will significantly strengthen the resilience of the Polish state and the entire North Atlantic Alliance.

“Part of DIANA’s strength is our unique transatlantic network of talent centres and innovation leaders working toward a common purpose. The breadth and diversity of partners in DIANA’s network will accelerate the development and deployment of ground-breaking solutions for defence, security and peace,” claims Prof. Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA, Co-Director of Institute for Security Science & Technology at Imperial College London.

The participation in the accelerator is coordinated by the Department of Innovation at the Ministry of National Defence which actively supports Poland’s input into the DIANA programme.

The AGH University has appointed a Rector’s Proxy for NATO, Izabela Albrycht, a member of the NATO Advisory Group on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies in 2020-2022, whereas the Krakow Technology Park has appointed a proxy for dual-use technologies, Bartosz Józefowski.

More information about the DIANA programme is available at: www.diana.nato.int

Information on the Polish site of the NATO defence innovation accelerator is available at: www.diana.krakow.pl

Stopka