Polish acceleration centre FORT KRAKÓW – NATO DIANA Accelerator Poland

The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is a strategic NATO initiative designed to support start-ups and companies developing breakthrough dual-use technologies — applicable in both civilian and military domains. DIANA provides innovators with access to experts, mentors, testing centres, and networks of contacts and resources essential for advancing and deploying cutting-edge technologies that can enhance the defence and security of NATO member states.

The DIANA network established by NATO aims to integrate the expertise of scientists, innovators, and start-ups with the resources of the defence and military sectors engaged in developing deep technologies. DIANA focuses on areas such as artificial intelligence, space, quantum, autonomous, information and communication technologies, energy and biotechnology, as well as new materials, resources, and manufacturing.

Currently, the DIANA network includes 17 accelerator centres and over 200 test facilities across NATO countries, providing programme participants with access to world-class research and testing infrastructure.

In Poland, DIANA operates through 10 institutions that act as reference and test centres, offering technological testing capabilities in such fields as cybersecurity, autonomous systems, quantum technologies, AI, Big Data, geospatial analysis, and advanced communications networks:

1. Centre for Scientific Geospatial and Satellite Analysis (CENAGIS),

2. Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Chemistry Institute,

3. Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (PIAP),

4. Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity (Łukasiewicz – AI),

5. Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials,

6. Military Institute of Armoured and Automotive Technology (WITPIS),

7. Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry,

8. Military Institute of Engineering and Technology (WITI),

9. Poznańskie Centrum Superkomputerowo-Sieciowe (PCSS),

10. AUTONOMY – Institute of Robots and Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Jarosław Dąbrowski Military University of Technology (WAT).

– For AGH, this is an exceptional distinction and recognition of our scientific potential. By joining the prestigious group of institutions establishing NATO accelerators, together with the Krakow Technology Park we assume responsibility for delivering high-level solutions vital to the Alliance’s security. We treat this mission with the utmost seriousness. For AGH, it is also an opportunity to strengthen and expand key research areas. The substantive support, mentoring, and market expertise offered through DIANA are invaluable. At the same time, we feel ready to contribute our most innovative, home-grown technologies to the DIANA programme,” emphasized Prof. Jerzy Lis, Rector of AGH University of Krakow.

– The Krakow Technology Park has consistently sought to specialize in innovation support, and cooperation with NATO in the field of defence innovation is seen as a unique opportunity for innovators. Our activities are guided by the belief that so-called deep technologies create the strongest competitive advantages in business, and that the future must be built on the pillars of innovation, security, and collaboration. At KPT, we believe that investing in defence innovation is not only a strategic matter but also a responsibility toward future generations,” added Tadeusz Zaremba, President of the Krakow Technology Park.

Representing PCSS — one of NATO DIANA’s Polish test centres — the opening ceremony of FORT KRAKÓW – DIANA Accelerator Poland was attended by Col. (ret.) Mirosław Nawrocki, pilot, Innovation and Development Coordinator of PSNC AerospaceLab and PSNC Point of Contact for NATO DIANA. He observed:

– The operational launch of the NATO DIANA Accelerator – FORT KRAKÓW is a long-awaited moment and a significant milestone on the map of NATO’s defence innovation acceleration programme. By NATO’s decision, Poland has become — as the only country on the Alliance’s eastern flank — the host of a DIANA accelerator, ten test centres, and the NATO Innovation Fund office. This strategic recognition highlights our country’s key role in developing technological innovation that strengthens NATO’s security and defence capabilities. The goal of FORT KRAKÓW is to foster and support the commercialization of innovative dual-use technologies that enhance the safety and defence of Poland and other NATO countries. The Krakow accelerator will serve as a bridge linking science, technology companies, the armed forces, the defence industry, and public administration — both domestic and allied.

The Krakow centre also coordinates the network of ten Polish research institutions participating in NATO DIANA as Test Centres. PCSS, as one of these Polish DIANA test centres, is active in the fields of AUTONOMY, QUANTUM, BIG DATA, AI, and CYBER, and looks forward to the Accelerator’s assistance in attracting new Polish and international companies for testing, as well as substantive and institutional support in carrying out TEVV (Test, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation) processes—especially in collaboration with potential end users. PCSS is currently finalizing agreements with two companies, finalists of the 2025 NATO DIANA cohort, for technology testing in 2026: the American company Tactical Edge Systems in the field of autonomous communications and the Polish company Restquant in post-quantum technologies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who attended the official launch of the FORT KRAKÓW Accelerator, highlighted Poland’s record defence spending and the urgent need to deploy modern systems and technologies rapidly. He stressed that translating these inventions into production lines and real defence capabilities represents the greatest challenge Poland faces today.