Two Portuguese companies, Connect Robotics and Neuraspace, are among the 150 companies selected to participate in the 2026 Challenge Programme of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).
The 2026 intake represents the “largest-ever” cohort of DIANA – an organization established by NATO to identify and accelerate dual-use innovation across the Alliance – with innovators selected from 24 member countries across ten defence and security challenge areas.
The program is designed to accelerate the development, validation, and adoption of technologies addressing urgent operational needs, while connecting participating companies with military end users, mentors, and investors to strengthen NATO’s technological capabilities.
Connect Robotics
Founded in 2015, Connect Robotics focuses on autonomous drone deliveries. The company has more than 15 authorized beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations, including approvals under the new European regulatory framework.
Its current activities are centered on the healthcare sector, particularly the transport of medicines and laboratory samples, an area characterized by higher operational complexity and critical demand.
Connect Robotics aims to provide a flexible, safe, and reliable delivery solution that integrates the delivery and handling processes of pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories, and small businesses in a transparent and automated manner.
The system is fully autonomous and can be deployed with minimal training, without the need for dedicated infrastructure or specialized expertise. Using RTK and visual navigation, the company highlights its ability to operate in small and hard-to-reach areas, including urban environments.
Neuraspace
Neuraspace was founded in 2020 to address the growing challenge of space debris through artificial intelligence. The company develops AI and machine learning models to predict and calculate the probability of collisions between satellites, as well as between satellites and existing space debris.
By working on consensus-based solutions with other organizations and sharing knowledge across the sector, Neuraspace aims to help keep satellite fleets safe, prevent the accumulation of new debris, and ensure safe access to space for operators. The company positions its work as contributing to a circular economy in space and continues to scale its services through ongoing research and development.
Accelerator program, funding, and testing access
The selected companies will participate in NATO DIANA’s accelerator programme, which supports technologies across ten priority areas, including advanced communications and contested electromagnetic environments, autonomy and unmanned systems, energy and power, biotechnology and human resilience, and critical infrastructure and logistics.
From January 2026, participants will receive contractual funding and gain access to DIANA’s network of 16 accelerator sites and more than 200 test centers across NATO’s 32 member countries.
In a statement, James Appathurai, interim managing director of NATO DIANA, said the program’s mission is to identify highly innovative companies, support the advancement of their solutions and business growth, and ensure that required technologies reach NATO operators.
“Over the next year, these innovators will accelerate breakthrough technologies that can help to transform how the Alliance defends against current and emerging threats,” he added.
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