By: Sifted
June 23, 2021
NATO is planning to harness the knowhow of startups to develop its next generation of war machines. The transatlantic defence alliance has announced that it is to launch a startup accelerator programme and a €1bn investment fund focused on deeptech startups.
The disruptive technologies that NATO is interested in include artificial intelligence, data and computing, autonomy, quantum-enabled technologies, bioengineering, human enhancements, hypersonic technology and space.
“Innovation doesn’t come from within the defence sector the way it used to 30 or 40 years ago.”
“We are looking at how we maintain our technical edge,” said David van Weel, NATO’s assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges. Working with startups will form an increasingly important part of this, he said.