NATO DIANA alumni, RVmagnetics, develop new tech with Airbus

Vladimir Marhefka, CSO and Vice-Chairman of RVmagnetics

The newly developed sensing mat by RVmagnetics and Airbus opens opportunities to modernise also defence aircraft repair Alumni news 13 April 2026 RVmagnetics, a NATO DIANA 2025 alumni company supported through the UK accelerator by Janus Allies and UKDI, announced a landmark collaboration with Airbus. The announcement was made at JEC World 2026 in Paris – one of the most significant composites industry events in the world – a stage that reflects the weight of what the two companies have built together.   The problem they set out to solve Composite materials are everywhere in modern aviation. Lightweight, strong and increasingly central to how aircraft are built, they are also notoriously difficult to repair. Traditional repair processes rely on thermocouples – a technology that has not kept pace with the complexity of modern composite structures. Sensor installation is time-consuming, imprecise, and ill-suited to the demands of out-of-autoclave hot bonder repair. RVmagnetics identified this gap and built a solution from the ground up. What the technology does At the heart of the sensing mat is RVmagnetics’ patented MicroWire sensor – currently the world’s smallest passive sensor. The mat contains multiple measuring points and requires only a single connection system, enabling real-time multi-point monitoring of curing cycles and heat distribution across complex aircraft surfaces. It is ultra-thin and flexible, adapting to the strong double curvatures found on aircraft structures. It operates accurately up to 200°C, has been successfully tested across multiple thermal cycles and is compatible with both conductive and radiation heating technologies. Critically, it prevents air leakages and dramatically reduces the time required to sensorise larger surfaces. The headline result: up to 80%-time savings during sensor installation. The sensing mat has been validated at TRL5 and the partners are planning to advance into a prototype phase in 2026, with further industrialisation steps to follow.   Why this matters beyond the runway In the future, this technology could be used not only in civil aviation but also in defence. Composite structures are as prevalent in defence platforms as they are in commercial aircraft – and the same repair challenges apply. The ability to monitor curing cycles in real time, with precision, at pace and without the limitations of legacy thermocouple technology, has clear relevance to military maintenance, repair and overhaul operations. This is precisely the kind of dual-use potential that NATO DIANA was designed to surface and accelerate through their 16-accelerator sites across the Alliance. A technology validated in a commercial aerospace context carries weight when it arrives at the defence table – it has already proven itself in a demanding, regulated, real-world environment. Vladimir Marhefka, CSO and Vice-Chairman of RVmagnetics, spoke directly to this trajectory: “We highly appreciate our cooperation with NATO DIANA and Janus Allies, which is opening new pathways for market development in the defence sector. This collaboration also enables us to extend the market for our new sensing mat to modernise composite repair, developed jointly with Airbus for civil aviation, into applications within the defence domain in the future.” What the Janus Allies accelerator is built for Supporting companies like RVmagnetics is central to what Janus Allies does for NATO DIANA and the UK. Our accelerator, delivered in partnership with UK Defence Innovation, led in a consortium by IoT Tribe and supported by SETsquared Partnership and Atmos Ventures, exists to help dual-use deep tech companies find the pathways, partnerships and market access they need to scale – across both commercial and defence domains. RVmagnetics came through the NATO DIANA 2025 cohort with a technology that was already technically credible. What the programme helped unlock was the strategic context: how to position that technology, who to speak to and how to make the case in a defence market that moves on credibility and evidence. The Airbus partnership is a direct demonstration of what that kind of support can enable.   A new standard for composite repair What RVmagnetics and Airbus have built is not an incremental improvement on existing technology. It is a rethink of how composite repair sensing should work – smarter, faster, more adaptable and built for the operational realities of both civil and military aviation. The full technical details of the partnership can be found on the RVmagnetics website: https://www.rvmagnetics.com/rvmagnetics-and-airbus-unveil-new-sensing-mat-for-out-of-autoclave-repair-of-composite-aircraft-structures-266 We look forward to seeing where the RVmagnetics’ team takes it next. Share on social media LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Read more NATO DIANA alumni, RVmagnetics, develop new tech with Airbus Navigating cyber security for defence Dual-use forum: future comms, space & autonomous vehicles

NATO DIANA debuts second dual-use cohort to UK ecosystem at London launch event

NATO DIANA debuts second dual-use cohort to UK ecosystem at London launch event Official press release 5 February 2026 Eight innovators commence mission to bolster NATO’s resilience in Contested Electromagnetic Environments LONDON (5 February 2026): Janus Allies (Janus), the UK Accelerator for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), in partnership with UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), has welcomed a new cohort of innovators.  In 2025 NATO DIANA received a record-breaking 3,680 submissions, this latest NATO DIANA cohort emerged from a highly selective process, placing them in roughly the top 4% of applicants and among the most competitive dual-use innovators in the Alliance.  The launch event for the 2026 NATO DIANA Cohort was hosted at the Churchill War Rooms, highlighting the link between historic resilience and today’s defence innovation realities.  At the event, Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Wooddisse, KCB, CBE, MC, Commander of the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), spoke about the innovation and adaptation needed for the warfighter. The evening then continued with remarks on building global advantage through collaboration, exports, and innovation, before concluding with John Cunningham, Director of Defence Innovation at the Ministry of Defence, on accelerating capabilities to the front lines. “Throughout my time in the Royal Air Force, I was a direct beneficiary of some of the UK’s most cutting-edge technologies, witnessing first-hand the transformative power of collaboration between technologists, academics, defence industry personnel and policymakers. The purpose of UK Defence Innovation is to place innovative solutions into the hands of the warfighter at speed and the pace at which innovation must be developed and deployed into capability is only accelerating. The opportunity for rapid improvement lies in strategically exploiting commercial technologies through a unified public-private sector approach. The NATO DIANA challenge, UKDI and UK Accelerator embody this shift, adopting a ‘fail fast’ startup mentality to test emerging capabilities at pace. The NATO DIANA programme has already generated incredible successes within the dual-use defence sector, sending a clear message of innovation, strength and agility.” John Cunningham, Director of UK Defence Innovation within the Ministry of Defence This year, Janus, the UK Accelerator is uniquely focused on solutions for Contested Electromagnetic Environments, one of the ten priority areas defined by NATO DIANA. The electromagnetic spectrum serves as an invisible frontline for adversaries to disrupt communication channels and mask emerging threats, and, in turn, represents an all-important battle for information control.  Commencing a six-month programme to rapidly integrate their technologies into the UK dual-use sector, and with talent from seven different nations across the NATO alliance, the innovators are:   Slipstream Design, United Kingdom – SME delivering secure, reconfigurable digital-RF sensing and communications for contested electromagnetic environments. CX2 Inc., United States of America– delivering spectrum dominance to the battlefield by providing AI-enabled hardware and software that characterises, disrupts and defends the electromagnetic domain in contested environments.  FOSSA Systems, Spain– delivering sovereign, multi-mission LEO satellite constellations that combine secure low-power SatCom (IoT/D2D) with space-based signals intelligence (SIGINT).  LSMedical, Estonia– a deep-tech materials science company founded to solve one of the most critical strategic vulnerabilities facing NATO and its allies: the dependence on rare earth permanent magnets.  Oledcomm, France– a deep-tech pioneer and a global leader in optical wireless communications, specialising in Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) technology.  SDQ Solutions Canada– future-proofing the next generation of global navigation: Quantum-Resistant Anti-Spoofing Solution for Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing.  Tern AI Inc, USA – Independently Derived Positioning System (IDPS™) provides assured, live vehicle positioning in contested and degraded environments operating without GNSS, satellites, signals, infrastructure or spectrum. Testnor AS, Norway– developing a modular, dual-use platform designed to validate advanced technologies in GNSS-denied, electromagnetically contested, and extreme conditions.  “Overcoming modern adversaries demands the right technological capabilities being deployed by the right people at the right time. By aligning mission with margin, the NATO DIANA accelerator ensures that startups don’t just innovate, but scale to help us gain a competitive advantage. The programme created by NATO DIANA supports the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, with a focus on accelerating innovation, enabling faster access than traditional procurement strategies and strengthening industrial defence capabilities. At Janus, we are committed to bridging the gap between innovation and deployment, ensuring that technologies are battlefield-ready to protect our allies.” Tanya Suarez, CEO of IoT Tribe and lead of the Janus accelerator NATO DIANA has been running accelerators across Allied nations for three years, with the UK Accelerator, delivered by Janus on behalf of UDKI, launching two years ago. The fist cohort, launched in 2025, is already making headlines across the ecosystem:   Slovakia-founded RV Magnetics, which specialises in developing and manufacturing the world’s smallest passive sensors. A year on from joining the UK Accelerator, RV Magnetics has now successfully tested its flagship ‘Microwire’ technology at the National Physics Laboratory and has already secured strategic defence contracts.  AI Verse has secured €5 million in new fundingto scale its synthetic data platform for high‑performance computer vision. The round was led by Supernova Invest, with participation from CAIT, Amundi AAI4, Creazur and returning investors Innovacom and Bpifrance Digital Venture.  “This milestone is a strong signal of confidence in our technology and our team. It also builds on the momentum we’ve gained through programmes like NATO DIANA, which have helped accelerate our growth and refine our approach to defence partners. Grateful to all our investors and collaborators for believing in what we’re building.” AI Verse’s Vice President of Sales, Ilya Ostrovsky The 2026 cohort will follow the same path of real‑life deployment, testing exercises and supply‑chain integration to accelerate technology adoption across the dual‑use ecosystem and, ultimately, across NATO. In this way, the UK Accelerator delivered by Janus, on behalf of NATO DIANA and in collaboration with UKDI, is helping to support NATO’s innovation and technology strategy and the UK’s defence innovation goals. “We have a collective responsibility to strengthen our Armed Forces, defend our nations, and protect our people – that is our purpose. At NATO DIANA, we exist to turn innovation into impact, connecting government, industry and cutting-edge innovators to deliver the capabilities our warfighters need to protect themselves and others. When these partnerships work well, the

Janus welcomes NATO DIANA 2026 Programme innovators

Janus welcomes NATO DIANA 2026 Programme innovators Official press release 11 December 2025 Janus Allies, the UK dual-use technology accelerator, welcomes eight companies specialising in Contested Electromagnetic Environments for the NATO DIANA 2026 Programme LONDON (11 December 2025) – Janus Allies consortium (Janus), in partnership with the Defence and Security Accelerator, part of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI-DASA), is excited to welcome a new cohort of innovative companies into the NATO DIANA 2026 Programme. This year NATO DIANA received a record-breaking 3,680 submissions across all NATO member states for this year’s call. The 2026 NATO DIANA cohort has emerged from a highly selective process, placing them in roughly the top 4% of applicants and among the most competitive dual-use innovators in the Alliance. Bringing us eight companies coming to join us on the Janus Accelerator Programme: LSMedical from Estonia Slipstream Design from the United Kingdom FOSSA Systems from Spain Tern AI Inc. from the United States of America Testnor AS from Norway Oledcomm from France SDQ Solutions Canada from Canada CX2 Inc. from the United States of America http://janusallies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NATO-DIANA-Innovator-Video-1.mp4#t=1 “As we enter our second year delivering the NATO DIANA programme with UKDI-DASA, we’re building on the momentum to strengthen the UK’s role in NATO priorities in line with the Strategic Defence Review. More contact with the end-user and better interoperability for adoption at pace.We are welcoming a new cohort with technologies that address the contested electromagnetic environments that can deny, degrade and disrupt operations. They are absolutely critical to maintaining operational advantage for the UK and NATO allies. These innovators shape capabilities that matter, and our goal remains clear: ensure the UK leads in defence innovation, while reinforcing allied technological sovereignty.” Tanya Suarez, Founder and CEO of IoT Tribe, lead of Janus consortium welcomes the new Janus cohort Over the next six months, they’ll work closely with our team and partners to support the scaling of their solutions and accelerate adoption across the Alliance. The Janus programme offers a mix of in-person and virtual training: workshops, lectures, mentorship, and guidance aimed to support their dual-use strategies “The UK NATO DIANA programme is built around defence and tailored to innovators of this calibre, providing best-in-class support to build on their existing strengths. Over six months they will sharpen their approach through wargaming, operational exercises and direct engagement with end-users and decision makers, strengthening their ability to enter defence markets, secure adoption and navigate procurement pathways. A transatlantic group of entrepreneurs, academics and defence specialists will help them refine their approach to defence and adopt industry-leading, mission-ready ways of working.” James Murray, Accelerator Manager at Janus, from the SETSquared Partnership “Our role is to back innovators and help them transition from early-stage concepts to investment-ready companies. By building dual-use technologies and leveraging our curated peer-to-peer investor network, we create confidence and unlock scale – strengthening NATO interoperability, hardening supply chains and delivering long-term security with tangible commercial returns.” Sami Moughrabie, General Partner, Atmos Ventures By working with experts from defence innovation ecosystems in the UK and the wider NATO alliance, the 2026 cohort will be prepared for defence procurement while broadening their commercial opportunities. The strongest dual-use ventures learn to align mission and margin, and the London site is set up to help them do exactly that. “We are delighted to welcome another cohort of innovators to the UK Accelerator, and are excited to see how their innovative technologies could help shape the future of defence. The UKDI-DASA partnership with NATO DIANA and the delivery of the UK Accelerator programme, is key to unlocking the potential of dual-use technologies to solve critical defence challenges and create solutions that strengthen security across the Alliance and we look forward to supporting these innovators in their innovation journey.” Anita Friend, Head of UKDI-DASA — More about the NATO DIANA 2026 Innovators All the companies selected starting in January 2026, will receive contractual funding and gain access to DIANA’s expanding network of 16 accelerator sites and more than 200 test centres across the 32 NATO nations. They will be working on solutions across 10 areas drawn from key priorities identified by Allies: Energy and Power Advanced Communication Technologies Contested Electromagnetic Environments Human Resilience and Biotechnologies Critical Infrastructure and Logistics Operations in Extreme Environments Maritime Operations Resilient Space Operations Autonomy and Unmanned Systems Data Assisted Decision Making   More information about the companies can be found at 2026 Cohort of Companies For any questions on Janus’ announcement, media or guidelines, please contact janus@iottribe.org More about NATO DIANA  NATO DIANA finds and accelerates cutting-edge technologies to deliver battle-winning defence and security solutions for the Alliance, while fostering deep-tech innovation. As a cornerstone of NATO’s innovation and technology strategy, DIANA brings together world-class talent and the latest advancements to maintain the Alliance’s technological edge. Leveraging a network of leading accelerator sites, test centres, expert mentors, and Allied expertise across 32 nations, DIANA empowers innovators working at the intersection of defence readiness, commercial potential, and technological breakthroughs.  About Janus Named after the Roman god of duality to reflect its approach to support dual-use applications, the Janus consortium is a four-partner, delivery-ready consortium with skills and expertise across business support and growth, science and technology, defence and security and deeptech investment. Led by the Defence and Security Accelerator, part of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI-DASA), Janus is a consortium in partnership with IoT Tribe, a specialist deeptech accelerator ecosystem; Atmos Ventures, a trans-Atlantic deeptech and defence investor; and the SETsquared Partnership, a dynamic collaboration between six leading research-led UK universities. We aim to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of NATO’s defence industrial base and expand the range of innovative capabilities available for acquisition and deployment by civilian, defence and security customers in the UK and internationally by strengthening the pipeline of talent and new, innovative companies operating in the defence and security markets. Share on social media LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Read more Workbench to warfighter: building tech that matters Janus welcomes NATO DIANA 2026 Programme innovators Anita Friend: Bolstering innovation into defence

The Strategic Edge Summit

Strategic Edge Summit Expediting innovation and readiness into defence 21 July 2025 Welcoming a new era for dual-use technology The Janus summit brought together visionary leaders, pioneering startups and strategic investors to explore how emerging technologies are transforming security, resilience and global collaboration. The day was divided into two powerful sessions, each spotlighting innovation at the heart of defence and dual-use technology.   Unlocking European dual-use markets ​ 95% of Defence, Security & Resilience (DSR) investment goes to deep tech, and one-third of global deep tech is defence-related.   In the morning, speakers including Yoram Wijngaarde (Dealroom.co) and Tom Dallas McSorley (NATO DIANA) unpacked Europe’s role in dual-use innovation. Yoram highlighted that DSR investment now makes up 6% of total European venture capital activity, having tripled over the past decade. While Series B and C rounds dominate, the pre-seed stage remains underfunded reflecting a broader trend across deep tech. Notably, one in five deep tech investments now targets DSR innovation, as more VCs launch dedicated defence funds and the number of exits begins to rise.  Although still a young ecosystem, defence is now among the fastest growing VC sectors, with the UK leading since 2019, particularly through hubs like Oxford and Cambridge. More recently, Munich has taken the lead globally. Europe already excels in areas such as quantum computing and quantum cryptography but remains reliant on foreign suppliers for key defence technologies. As emphasised in the discussion, there’s an urgent need for Europe to strengthen its bargaining power in the global tech ecosystem.    How can we unlock the potential of dual-use markets in Europe? ​ Tanya Suarez Ph.D. (IoT Tribe) called for cross-sector collaboration and hosted a panel with Kelly Chen (NATO Innovation Fund), Rob Desborough (Seraphim Space), and Andrei Dragomir (Aquark Technologies).   The panel explored the evolving perception of Defence Tech. As one speaker noted, “defence used to be a dirty word, but now it depends on how one defines defence” with many recognising national securities, not just battlefield systems, as the core mission. In that sense, defence now overlaps with ESG, where the “S” increasingly stands for security.  “Does it matter where the money comes from?” The consensus was clear, funding must come from trusted sources, but beyond that, the focus should be on shared strategic goals. However, challenges remain: many VCs still cannot back weaponry due to LP constraints, highlighting the need to bring clarity to this grey zone.  The discussion closed with a powerful reminder: much of the innovation underpinning modern society was forged in war zones. Defence Tech has always been born of necessity and it continues to shape the technologies we rely on every day.  The NATO DIANA innovators showcase featured five standout startups with solutions in sensing and surveillance:  ​ AI Verse – scalable procedural AI model training. They have delivered a major advancement integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This new feature enables their procedural engine to extract all relevant environmental data based on a specified GPS coordinate and reconstruct it on a 3D scene.  ElFys  – next-gen silicon-sensitive sensors. They developed a new product during the course of the accelerator program and is testing its technology with NATO DIANA.  RVmagnetics – is setting a new industrial standard by creating the world’s smallest passive sensor.  They are in discussions with multiple Fortune 500 companies, including a $10 billion automotive client.   Winse Power Ltd. – optical data and power transmission. They are working with Saab and with UK and Nordic defence primes.   Metahelios Ltd – novel imaging using Pixel Metasurface-integrated Technologies (PMiT). They out to replace archaic camera technology that is holding us back on the battlefield with a solution that is 40x smaller, 300x faster, 50x lighter and uses 60x less power  Showcasing UK defence capabilities With the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) freshly released, the afternoon shifted focus to national priorities and domestic capability building. The SDR outlines a major financial and strategic commitment 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027, rising to no less than 3% by 2034 positioning defence as a cornerstone of industrial growth and national resilience.  Anthony McGee (RAPSTONE) and Major General Mike Keating (NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps) set the tone with a call for technologies that are survivable, attractable, and consumable, engineered not just for innovation’s sake, but for deployment in contested, high-pressure environments.  Task Force RAPSTONE is an innovation and experimentation unit, ensuring the British Army remains agile, tech-enabled and ready to respond to evolving threats with cutting-edge solutions.  The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is a high-readiness, multinational NATO force headquarters based in Gloucester, UK. It is designed to rapidly deploy and lead combined and joint operations across the full spectrum of military operations – ensuring NATO’s land forces are ready, interoperable and capable of swift response to global security challenges. In parallel, there’s a push for a national arsenal—not just stockpiles—and a growing role for disruptive technologies, talent development and military apprenticeships as part of a wider societal shift.  The ARRC is not only a headquarters—it’s a live, evolving platform for NATO’s future warfare readiness, where innovation must translate into real world resilience.  The UK dual-use innovators showcase featured five standout companies tackling critical challenges: Goldilock – dynamic, air-gapped cyber defence infrastructure   SatVu – satellite-based thermal imagery for Earth observation   Zelim – AI-powered maritime rescue and safety systems   Phoenix Carbon – sustainable next-gen composite materials   Aphelion Industries – protecting the orbital environment from debris and contamination What is needed to accelerate startup access into the UK’s defence and procurement ecosystem? Sami Moughrabie (Atmos Ventures) spoke with Ben Naylor (Commercial X) and Aimie Stone (ADS Group Ltd) on procurement reform. While progress is being made by embedding innovation earlier in the ideation process, barriers remain, particularly in how innovators connect with the wider industry.  The panel stressed the importance of new approaches to assessing risk, and a mindset shift: early-stage failure must be seen as part of the process, not a reason to reject change. The role of large primes was also discussed while they remain central,