NATO’s Defence Innovation Hub Sets Up North American Base in Halifax

On October 2, 2024, a significant milestone was marked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) officially opened its North American headquarters. The event, spearheaded by Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser, was attended by several notable figures including Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, and Professor Deeph Chana, DIANA’s Managing Director. They represented the Honourable Bill Blair, Canada’s Defence Minister, and Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

“Rapid advances in technology and an evolving security environment call on us to find innovative solutions to address the emerging threats of today. The NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic is a hub for experts to find new solutions to bolster the capabilities of Canada and our NATO Allies. We are proud to host the North American regional office in Halifax, a city with an advanced science and technology community and host to our Atlantic Navy fleet,” expressed the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence.

The opening also featured an important personnel announcement. Major-General Paul Peyton, with over three decades of leadership experience, was named Military Deputy Director for North America for NATO DIANA. Major-General Peyton has played a key role in Canadian defence, having most recently served as Chief of Force Development for the Canadian Armed Forces.

NATO DIANA was created to spearhead technological advancements that address critical security and defence challenges. The initiative unites top innovators from across NATO member countries to ensure the Alliance remains at the cutting edge of technology, safeguarding its billion citizens while preserving global peace and security. Canada’s support for this initiative comes with an initial investment of $26.6 million over the next six years, highlighting its commitment to NATO’s long-term technological goals.

“As home to several major universities and research centres, hundreds of science and technology start-ups and Canada’s Atlantic naval fleet, Halifax is well-positioned to support DIANA, as well as innovators and industry across the country. By working together, we’re ensuring that NATO DIANA’s presence here supports Canada’s commitment to being an active NATO member and to preserve the security and peace of our country,” said the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Through the resources offered by NATO DIANA, innovators are provided with a host of opportunities—grant funding, commercial guidance, and acceleration services—enabling them to adapt their technological solutions to meet the complex needs of defence and security sectors.

“Establishing NATO DIANA in the Halifax Regional Municipality is a testament to our region’s extraordinary growth trajectory and capacity to support organizations across the globe. Our region is well-positioned to support DIANA with deep military traditions, best of class technology, and some of the brightest innovators,” commented the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

Halifax, with its vibrant innovation ecosystem and a strong presence of more than 300 entrepreneurial tech start-ups, offers an ideal environment for DIANA’s continued growth. The region is also home to a network of major research institutions and universities, along with Canada’s Atlantic naval fleet, making it a prime location for NATO’s technological ambitions in North America.

“DIANA is committed to solving the world’s most complex security, defence and resilience problems through technological innovation. Canada has been a key part of our success so far, and with our North American Headquarters now up and running, we look forward to further tapping into the innovation capacity across Canada, the United States, and all 32 nations in the Alliance. Together, we can build greater pathways between technologies and those who need them to make our world a safer, more resilient and more peaceful place,” reflected Professor Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA.