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Technologická Inkubace

More Czech startups are heading to the NATO DIANA programme. CzechInvest will help develop technologies for critical infrastructure and space applications

Defence
15.12. 2025
line-arrow More Czech startups are heading to the NATO DIANA programme. CzechInvest will help develop technologies for critical infrastructure and space applications

CzechInvest’s Defence Hub will develop ten more technology startups focused on dual-use technologies – both civil and defence – as part of NATO’s prestigious DIANA programme. A record 150 companies from 24 member countries have been selected for the third year of the programme. Among the successful applicants are two Czech representatives, InovecTech and InfraHex.

The Defence Hub of the CzechInvestagency , funded by the Ministry of Defence, has become one of the most active accelerator sites of the NATO DIANA programme in Europe after its first year of operation. In the coming year, it will expand its scope from one to two strategic areas defined by the allies and will help develop companies focused on critical infrastructure and logistics and technologies applicable to space operations.

“Security is a key prerequisite for prosperity. I am pleased that CzechInvest is able to connect both levels – to support new companies and technologies for civil and defence purposes. We are helping to strengthen our defence and security ecosystem,” said Jan Michal, Director General of CzechInvest. According to him, the NATO DIANA programme has become a significant impetus for the development of defence innovation, which is confirmed by the interest of the Czech defence sector and industry.

“Defence Hub has grown into a completely unprecedented projectin just one year. We’ve managed to closely connect industry, the startup scene, academia and investors – all of whom are essential to making new technologies part of our defence capability,” said Radka Konderlová, Senior Director of the Industrial Cooperation Section of the Ministry of Defence.

The programme’s ambition is not only to promote innovation but also to strengthen the links between the civilian and defence sectors, a trend that NATO today not only supports but also demands. “Innovation and capability building have long been two separate worlds. But today, innovation represents an important link between ideas and real-world defence capabilities,” added Miroslav Zatloukal from the Capabilities Planning Section of the Ministry of Defence.

Czech Mission 2026: Critical Infrastructure and Space

While this year the Czech Defence Hub worked with energy startups, next year it will focus on companies in the critical infrastructure and logistics and space operations sectors. In both cases, the Czech ecosystem has very strong competencies and at the same time these areas fit perfectly into the domestic innovation environment. This will not only allow accelerated companies to collaborate with experienced mentors, but also make it easier to connect startups to key stakeholders.

CzechInvest has long focused on the development of space technology companies through the ESA BIC programme and has also benefited from an exceptionally strong domestic space community. In addition, the Czechs are traditionally very strong in logistics, manufacturing engineering and engineering technology, so we have a lot to offer selected companies in this respect as well,” reminded Leoš Mauer, Chief Manager of the Defence Hub at the CzechInvest agency.

For 2026, the DIANA programme management has assigned seven companies focused on critical infrastructure and logistics and three focused on space operations to the Czech Republic. The individual startups are at different stages of development and range from the development of advanced materials to sensors to innovative hardware and software solutions.

Critical infrastructure and logistics:

Resilient space operations:

NATO to support more Czech innovators

In its first two years, the DIANA programme has already supported the Czech companies Dronetag and Atomiver. Their success confirms that the Czech innovation and technology ecosystem has exceptional prerequisites for defence technologies. Two more domestic startups – InovecTech and InfraHex– were selected for the third edition.

“It is a prestige for us, an opportunity and, above all, a confirmation that what we are doing makes sense. We are currently at 70 to 80 per cent of development and have the chance to move forward,” said Ondřej Procházka of InfraHex, which will continue to develop its products for multispectral camouflage in Boston, USA. InovecTech is focusing on the development and production of dynamic virtual sensors based on computer vision. It will develop its product with the DIANA team in the Netherlands from January.

Selected innovators will join NATO’s DIANA accelerator programme to develop their dual-use technologies to address ten key defence and security calls, including advanced communications and operating in a combat electromagnetic environment, autonomy, energy and power, or biotechnology and human resilience. “Startups will have an intensive program practicing the so-called fast-tracking, i.e. a rapid transition from product innovation to verification in real conditions, in close cooperation with representatives of the army. The goal is to enable companies to understand the specifics of the defense sector and accelerate the path of their technologies to operational deployment,” explained Martin Hýža, Acceleration Manager at Defence Hub.

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