Biosistemika, a Ljubljana-based company developing custom software solutions and products for laboratories, instrument manufacturers and software providers, has been selected to join the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme next year.

DIANA published a call for application for companies with innovative high-tech dual-use discoveries in summer, covering five areas: energy and power, data and information security, sensing and surveillance, human health and performance, and critical infrastructure and logistics.

It received more than 2,600 applications from 30 NATO member states, including 32 from Slovenia. A total of 73 companies were selected to join the programme next year, the Defence Ministry announced on 11 December.

Biosistemika applied in the field of secure information sharing.

The selected companies will look for environmentally friendly technologies, practices and solutions to build resilience and dual use for both defence and civilian purposes. DIANA will provide funding, programming, mentoring, testing facilities and access to investors and end-users to companies in the process.

The first phase of the accelerator programme will start in January 2025, when each company receives €100,000 to join one of the 13 accelerators in NATO for access to hands-on experience, training and networking.

This will be followed by a selection process and the companies selected in the second round will receive an additional €300,000. DIANA will provide mentors and experts in different fields to the companies during the process, and in the final part, contact with investors and commercialisation assistance.