Vad är LEADs roll som Sveriges DIANA-Accelerator?

LEAD har rekommenderats som Sveriges DIANA-Accelerator för att främja innovation inom försvarsteknik. Som en företagsinkubator med stark koppling till deep-tech och försvarssektorn, kan LEAD attrahera innovativa företag till regionen. Senast faktagranskad: 2025-09-06.

Hur valdes LEAD som Sveriges DIANA-Accelerator?

LEAD valdes som Sveriges DIANA-Accelerator efter en noggrann urvalsprocess av Försvarsmakten och Vinnova. Cirka 80 ansökningar granskades, och LEADs starka internationella position inom avancerade material och visualisering bidrog till beslutet. Senast faktagranskad: 2025-09-06.

Vilka testcenter rekommenderades tillsammans med LEAD?

Tillsammans med LEAD rekommenderades fyra testcenter: MAX IV, Svenska Rymdaktiebolaget, Marine Technology Center of Sweden och RISE. Dessa center valdes för att stödja Natos DIANA-programs mål att främja innovation och partnerskap. Senast faktagranskad: 2025-09-06.

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LEAD Recommended as Sweden's DIANA Accelerator

LEAD has been recommended as Sweden's DIANA Accelerator by the Swedish Armed Forces and Vinnova. This could lead to an increased influx of innovative companies to the region.

The Swedish Armed Forces, in collaboration with Vinnova and with support from the Swedish Research Council and MSB, have been tasked by the government to propose suitable candidates as an Accelerator and test centres for NATO's DIANA programme. After a thorough selection process, the authorities have jointly recommended LEAD as the Swedish DIANA Accelerator. LEAD is a business incubator owned by Linköping University and has supported hundreds of startups.

According to a press release from LEAD, approximately 80 applications were received from Swedish organisations in the field. After review, about ten incubators and test centres proceeded to the final evaluation. In addition to LEAD as the Accelerator, the authorities also recommended four test centres: MAX IV, the Swedish Space Corporation, Marine Technology Center of Sweden, and RISE.

– We at LEAD are delighted to have received the announcement that we are Sweden's recommended DIANA Accelerator. This could provide us with an opportunity to increase the deal flow of exciting companies to our region, focusing on our areas of strength, says Catharina Sandberg, CEO of LEAD.

In their final report, the authorities write that: "LEAD is one of Sweden's leading business incubators with a special focus on deep-tech."

They continue to describe that LEAD has a strong international position in areas such as advanced materials and visualisation, simulation, and imaging fields. Furthermore, they highlight the strong connection to the defence sector in the region.

DIANA is a NATO initiative launched at the NATO Summit 2021 in Brussels. With accelerator locations and test centres spread across member countries, DIANA aims to promote partnerships between universities, industry, authorities, and governments.

The network currently consists of over 10 accelerator locations and nearly 90 test centres. They presently have a regional office in London and will soon open another in Halifax, Canada. Additionally, they will also open a regional hub in Tallinn, Estonia.