Finland to boost its high-technology profile in NATO – An accelerator and two test centres to be established in Finland

The Board of Directors of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) have approved Finland’s proposal to establish one accelerator and two test centres in Finland.

The Ministry of Defence submitted Finland’s proposal to DIANA’s Board of Directors in July 2023. The Ministry of Defence will act as the national single point of authority responsible for the project. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland coordinated the preparation of Finland’s proposal in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

In accordance with Finland’s proposal, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland will establish an accelerator in Otaniemi in Espoo in collaboration with Aalto University and the University of Helsinki. The new accelerator will focus on next generation communications and on quantum technology. It will offer companies mentorship in business development in the defence sector. Primary customers of the accelerator will be startups and small- and medium-sized companies that have little experience of working with the defence and security sectors.

“The accelerator and test centres to be established in Finland will raise awareness of Finland and create new business opportunities for Finnish companies among NATO member countries. Finland’s leading position especially in the development of new generation communication technologies and quantum technologies is likely to attract operators and experts to Finland. Our profile as a frontrunner of dual-use communication technologies will make Finland more attractive to international financiers and strengthen our technological input as a NATO member,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen says.

The test centres will be established at the University of Oulu and the Otaniemi office of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The test centre in Otaniemi will specialise in cyber-secure communications, quantum technologies and space technologies, while the test centre coordinated by the University of Oulu will offer companies opportunities to test 6G network technologies. The services offered by the test centres could include assessment of concepts and technologies developed by companies and support for their development.

“Digital communications systems play a vital role in modern warfare. Investing in different kinds of test environments and pursuing international research and development cooperation are central to verifying the military usability of new technologies. We have a high level of expertise and a tradition of long-term investment in communication network and quantum technologies. Finland’s active involvement in DIANA opens up new opportunities, reinforces the technological and industrial base of Finland’s defence and improves the security of the Alliance through national top expertise,” says Minister Häkkänen.

The purpose of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is to identify future challenges in the defence sector and find technologically innovative solutions together with the private sector. NATO launched DIANA at the Brussels Summit in 2021. DIANA focuses on emerging and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, autonomous technologies and quantum technologies that have dual-use potential, which means that they can be used both commercially and in the civilian and defence sectors. Most dual-use innovations nowadays have a market-driven origin in the civilian sector. Tapping this potential requires new mechanisms for identifying developers of promising technologies and stronger links between the defence sector and commercial innovation ecosystems.

Inquiries: Ville Elo, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 202. Requests for interviews with the Minister of Defence: Ville Sipiläinen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 40 761 1558.

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