The NATO Innovation Week was held in Budapest for the first time, marking a significant step in the region’s growing role in defence innovation. Over the course of three days, representatives from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) and the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) took part in a series of meetings that participants widely praised as a resounding success.
Brigadier General Dr Imre Porkoláb, Vice-Chair of DIANA’s Board of Directors, highlighted that defence innovation goes well beyond the military—it encompasses technological advancements with potential applications across numerous civilian sectors as well. The aim of the innovation network is to enable domestic research and development teams to participate in international projects and create real added value through their results.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a cooperation agreement between DIANA and the Hungarian government. As part of this agreement, the Zalaegerszeg testing centre has been accredited for work in the fields of autonomous systems and cyber capability development—an important step towards Hungary’s deeper integration into NATO’s innovation ecosystem.
The event also welcomed several distinguished guests, including Dr Klaus Hommels, Chair of the NIF Board; Professor Fiona Murray, Vice-Chair of the NIF Board; David van Weel, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges; and Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Hungary’s Minister of Defence.
The programme was further enriched by a variety of cultural events and engaging panel discussions. It was organised by the Defence Innovation and Research Institute Nonprofit Ltd., with the support of the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.
