Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand, announced today that Canada is proposing the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, to host the North American Regional Office of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). DIANA is a new NATO body that will create a network of innovation sites in North America and Europe

“NATO DIANA is a crucial initiative that will solve critical defence and security problems facing the NATO Alliance, and Canada is proud to propose the Halifax Regional Municipality as the host of the North American Regional Office. As home to several major universities and research centres, hundreds of science and technology start-ups and Canada’s Atlantic naval fleet, Halifax is well-positioned to support DIANA, as well as innovators and industry across North America. Canada embraces our important role as a NATO Ally, and will continue to take a leadership role within the Alliance to strengthen our collective security. ”

– The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

“Canada is pleased to offer the Halifax Regional Municipality as the proposed home for the North American Regional Office of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. Canada looks forward to working with the Alliance’s brightest to develop and adopt new technologies that advance NATO’s technological edge.”

 

–  The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Global Affairs Canada

“The offer of the Regional Municipality of Halifax as the host for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic is a testament to our region's extraordinary growth trajectory and capacity to support institutions of global impact. Halifax has a long and storied military tradition that has achieved rapid growth in innovation that positions it well to host NATO's new North American Regional Office.”

–  The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova

• In June 2022, all Allied Leaders approved the Charter of the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. Per the Charter, the Government of Canada’s offer of the Halifax Regional Municipality as the host for the NATO DIANA North American Regional Office will be considered by the NATO DIANA Board. 

• If accepted by NATO, the Halifax-based Regional Office for North America would work collaboratively with the European Regional Office in London, United Kingdom (co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Estonia), and it would coordinate the work of accelerators and test centres throughout North America to strengthen transatlantic cooperation on critical technologies, and deepen collaboration between NATO, regional industry and academia. 

• While the Government of Canada intends to anchor the North American Regional Office in Halifax, NATO DIANA will benefit from the broadest array of innovative and creative thinking across the country and throughout North America.

• Hosting one of the NATO DIANA Regional Offices in Canada is expected to bring tangible benefits to Canadian industry and the defence technology sector by encouraging participation from Canadian companies, existing accelerators, and academic and research institutions. It would also provide Canadian industry with a direct link to research and funding collaboration, as well as technological exchange with commercial partners and governments across 30 Euro-Atlantic Allies.

Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: Daniel.Minden@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca