The Innovation Hub for Allied Command Transformation

Innovation Challenges

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ATO’s Allied Command Transformation launched the 15th edition of the NATO Innovation Challenge. This Innovation Challenge focuses on solutions that can DETECT, INTERCEPT, or NEUTRALIZE a Glide Bomb.

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What is the NATO Innovation Challenge?

The NATO Innovation Challenge was initiated in 2017, Its objective is aimed at resolving common Alliance and Nations operational problems efficiently and economically. It’s co-organized by the NATO Innovation Hub (Allied Command Transformation) and NATO Nations.

The NATO Innovation Challenge is open to all NATO Nations. However, it gives priority access to non-traditional innovators (academia, individuals, and start-ups), and expands NATO’s network and collaboration with industry and academia. The NATO Innovation Network strives to develop a shared culture of innovation among NATO Nations and inspire transformation as it provides visibility to participants and their solutions, and for the winners, it could potentially offer the opportunity to receive support to develop their products. Ultimately, providing an opportunity for anyone who resonates with the top objectives of the Innovation Hub.

Identify solutions to mitigate/resolve Important NATO issues.

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Will You Be The Next Winner?

All participants must propose a solution that will be reviewed by a NATO-wide expert board from a relevance, innovativeness, value and investment viability perspective. The finalists (also known as top participants) are invited to a finale event where they are required to demonstrate their solution to an expert board at the hosting member nation’s country either online or in person.

  • Grow the NATO Innovation Network

The challenge is the cornerstone for creating a NATO-Wide Innovation Network. Hence, there are usually two Innovation Challenges every year, each challenge differs from one another with a focus to tackle a particular problem within the NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and its Alliance. Every new challenge is hosted by a member of the NATO member nations. It’s a great opportunity to give them the visibility, support, and develop their local innovation ecosystem, and international outreach.

  • Develop a global security and Defense Innovation Ecosystem

The NATO Innovation Challenge model is extremely simple, practical and accessible to anyone. It also ensures that no one is excluded, and the innovation has no boundary as the public, academia, industry, government and the Military are eligible to join the challenge.

NATO Innovation Challenge flyerDownload

Past Challenges

YearCountryObjectiveWinner
Spring 2024LithuaniaRemote Explosive-Contaminated Area Recognition and NeutralizationBroswarm (Lithuania)
Fall 2023SloveniaPlanning, preparation and real-time monitoring of military movements and transportYarded (Germany)
Spring 2023DenmarkMonitoring the ArticKuva Space (Finland)
Fall 2022RomaniaResilienceTeam BWI innoX (DEU)
Spring 2022North MacedoniaBio ResponseKROMEK (US)
Fall 2021CanadaCountering Cognitive WarfareVeriphix (US)
Spring 2021PortugalSpace Domain AwarenessShare My Space (FR)
Fall 2020ItalyTrust in autonomous systemsRoyal Military Academy of Belgium
Spring 2020NetherlandsSituation Awareness and DisinformationVerifEye (UK)
Fall 2019HungaryOptimizing Leader’s DevelopmentSana (US)
Spring 2019Czech RepublicPrevent and recover Electro-magnetic PulseElectronics Service (US)
Fall 2018GermanyCounter UAS/UAV in urban areasALX Systems (BEL)
Spring 2018FranceBig Data and Analytics VisualizationDataiku (FR)
Fall 2017USASupport Stability PolicingWhat3words (UK)
Previous Innovation ChallengesDownload
Previous Innovation Challenge finalistsDownload