AGH University and Krakow Technology Park to lead the Polish site of NATO defence innovation accelerator within the DIANA programme

As stated by Brig. Gen. Marcin Górka, Director of the Innovation Department at the Ministry of National Defence, Poland’s representative on DIANA’s Board of Directors: “From the very beginning of our participation in the DIANA programme, we wished for one of the accelerator’s sites to be located in Poland. This is an absolute prerequisite for our country to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities DIANA offers, by which I am by no means referring to the start-ups, innovators, as well as the Polish test centres already included in the DIANA network, but also the Polish innovation ecosystem in a broader sense, i.e. capital funds, academic centres, arms entities, and, of course, us, soldiers. I am truly delighted that the offer of the Krakow Technology Park and the AGH University has been accepted by the Board of Directors.”

As emphasised by Professor Jerzy Lis, the Rector of the AGH University: “This is a vitally significant distinction for the AGH University as well as a recognition of our scientific potential. By joining the prestigious group of NATO accelerators, together with the Krakow Technology Park we take responsibility for providing solutions at the highest level that will be crucial for security in the Alliance. We approach such challenges with the utmost seriousness. This is an opportunity to strengthen and develop key research areas for the AGH University itself. Both substantive support and mentoring from market experts are invaluable in this endeavour. At the same time, we feel that we are ready to bring the most innovative solutions emerging within the walls of our university into the DIANA programme.”

“The Krakow Technology Park is successively striving for specialisation in the area of innovation support, and we see the cooperation with NATO in the field of defence innovation as a unique opportunity for innovators. Our actions are dictated both by the belief that the so-called deep technologies give the strongest competitive advantages in business, and by the fact that the future should be built on the pillars of innovation, security, and cooperation. At KPT, we believe that investing in defence innovations is not only a strategic issue but also a responsibility to future generations,” claims Tadeusz Zaremba, president of the Krakow Technology Park Board.

According to Jacek Siewiera, Chief of the National Security Bureau, „in accordance with the international decision, the Polish Innovation Ecosystem has gained a new, extremely essential institution created based on Krakow’s AGH University and Krakow Technology Park – Krakow DIANA Accelerator, part of NATO DIANA defence innovation accelerator. The National Security Bureau has consistently supported this idea, as the modern society depends on whether we will be able to use the potential of R&D units and technology parks to our advantage, and on how effectively we will transfer and use this knowledge to enhance the national security. Selecting Poland as one of the accelerator’s sites will allow for the improvement of the cooperation between start-ups, investors, defence sector entities, academia, and the end user. The allied cooperation in the defence sector constitutes a basis for the operation of modern business models, but it also will have a positive influence on the development and implementation of state-of-the-art technologies and will significantly strengthen the resilience of the Polish state and the entire North Atlantic Alliance.

“Part of DIANA’s strength is our unique transatlantic network of talent centres and innovation leaders working toward a common purpose. The breadth and diversity of partners in DIANA’s network will accelerate the development and deployment of ground-breaking solutions for defence, security and peace,” claims Prof. Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA, Co-Director of Institute for Security Science & Technology at Imperial College London.